| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08352304B2 |
System and method for allocating jobs to an agent
A system and method for allocating jobs to an agent is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for allocating jobs to an agent includes defining, for each job of the jobs, a job type associated with at least one job and at least one sub-step associated with the at least one job, determining eligibility to perform the at least one sub-step by an agent of agents, determining a number of jobs of each job type to be performed by the agent based on the eligibility determination, and automatically generating agent-specific job queues based on the number of jobs. |
| US08352302B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf. According to embodiments, a method for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf is provided. According to the method, an indication of the given turf is received. Optimal turfs from where to reallocate technicians to the given turf are determined from a plurality of turfs. Visual cues for identifying at least a portion of the optimal turfs are generated. |
| US08352301B1 |
Sales opportunity notification and tracking system and related methods
A sales notification system and related methods. Implementations include receiving a selection of a target industry identifier and a selection of a product identifier, where each product identifier is associated with a particular product and product category. The method includes generating a list of client accounts associated with the target industry identifier and product identifier where each client account is associated with a particular account segment, generating a list of potential sales representatives by retrieving all sales representatives associated with each client account, and generating a list of eligible sales representatives for each client account where each eligible sales representative is the potential sales representative who is permitted to sell the product associated with the product indicators within the product category and within the account segment associated with each client account. The method may also include using the server to generate a sales notification for each eligible sales representative. |
| US08352299B1 |
Assessment of item listing quality by impact prediction
Systems and methods use behavioral data to assess listings for items. The behavior data may relate to information regarding user actions in connection with listings for the items. The listings may be collections of information about the items. Behavioral data in connection with a collection of listings is used to assess how changing listings affects one or more performance measures and/or to score listing quality. The assessment may be used for various purposes, such as identifying listings that may be changed to achieve one or more improved performance measures for corresponding items and for other applications. |
| US08352294B2 |
Automatic income adjustment
A method includes receiving market data associated with an investment product that specifies a first guaranteed annual withdrawal amount and a second guaranteed annual withdrawal amount, where the first guaranteed annual withdrawal amount is greater than the second guaranteed annual withdrawal amount. The method includes automatically selecting a guaranteed annual withdrawal amount from the first guaranteed annual withdrawal amount and the second guaranteed annual withdrawal amount based on at least an evaluation of the market data. |
| US08352292B2 |
Personal injury valuation systems and method
The present invention is a method for calculating a current monetary value of a personal injury claim wherein computers are utilized to store, process, manipulate and analyze information collected from finalized personal injury claims including data representative of the cause of the personal injury, the type of injury sustained, the location where the injury occurred, the amounts paid for medical services and the amounts claimed for medical services to calculate an average settlement multiple which, when multiplied by the current amount claimed as medical damages, yields a current average settlement value. |
| US08352291B2 |
Innovations in health insurance
One aspect of the present invention includes determining a variable medical co-payment according to marginal clinical utility. A set of clinical factors are processed to identify a specific clinical condition. As provided by an independent panel of physicians, medical care alternatives are described for the specific clinical condition. The independent panel of physicians further indicates corresponding marginal clinical utilities of the medical care alternatives. Variable co-payments are applied to the medical care alternatives in an inverse relationship with the corresponding marginal clinical utilities. |
| US08352288B2 |
Method for providing a user with a web-based service for accessing and collecting records
A method for providing a user with a web-based service to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner, the method including assigning through a web site a phone number, assigning through the web site a user account to the user, associating access information with the user, creating through the web site a document for the user to provide to the service provider requesting the service provider to send the records to the phone number and granting the service provider permission to send the records to the phone number, receiving by the service provider the document from the user to provide the service provider permission to send the records to the phone number, and sending by the service provider a private fax communication to the phone number. |
| US08352284B2 |
Generating and managing medication tapers
Methods, computer storage media, systems and user interfaces for generating and/or managing medication tapers are provided. Medication tapers are generated by receiving medication taper data and calculating a planned regimen that includes a set of orders based upon the received medication taper data. Each order of the set of orders may be modified, captured and/or completed, for instance, by a clinician. After a medication taper has been completed, it may be retrieved and managed as desired. |
| US08352282B2 |
System and method for managing and deploying functional services to a vehicle client
An invention is provided for a system for managing and deploying software functionality to a vehicle client including a server including a user preference list, a communication tier, applications for receiving a request from the vehicle client, the request identifying the particular user preference and applications for deploying the selected plurality of services and the plurality of service directories in the particular user's preference list to the vehicle client in response to a request from the vehicle client. The user preference list includes a selected plurality of services subscribed by a corresponding particular user's preference list, each one of the plurality of services including a plurality of software components and information for use of a corresponding service, wherein the selected plurality of services are downloadable service implementation components and a plurality of service directories, each service directory including a list of service objects. The communication tier couples the server and a plurality of devices via one or more networks, wherein the plurality of devices includes at least one vehicle client. |
| US08352281B2 |
System, method and computer program product for assessing risk of identity theft
In one embodiment, this invention analyzes demographic data that is associated with a specific street address when presented as an address change on an existing account or an address included on a new account application when that address is different from the reference address (e.g., a credit bureau type header data). The old or reference address and the new address, the new account application address or fulfillment address demographic attributes are gathered, analyzed, compared for divergence and scaled to reflect the relative fraud risk. |
| US08352280B2 |
Scalable multi-channel audio coding
An audio encoder adapted to encode a multi-channel audio signal. The encoder comprises an encoder combination module (ECM) for generating a dominant signal part and a residual signal part being a combined representation of first and second audio signals, the dominant and residual signal parts being obtained by applying a mathematical procedure to the first and second audio signals. The mathematical procedure involves a spatial parameter comprising a description of spatial properties of the first and second audio signals. Embodiments include a plurality of interconnected encoder combination module, so that e.g. six independent 5.1 format audio signals can be encoded to a single or two dominant signal parts and a number of parameter sets and residual signal parts. |
| US08352279B2 |
Efficient temporal envelope coding approach by prediction between low band signal and high band signal
This invention proposes a more efficient way to quantize temporal envelope shaping of high band signal by benefiting from energy relationship between low band signal and high band signal; if low band signal is well coded or it is coded with time domain codec such as CELP, temporal envelope shaping information of low band signal can be used to predict temporal envelope shaping of high band signal; the temporal envelope shaping prediction can bring significant saving of bits to precisely quantize temporal envelope shaping of high band signal. This prediction approach can be combined with other specific approach to further increase the efficiency and save mores bits. |
| US08352276B1 |
Script compliance and agent feedback
Systems and methods are provided for using automatic speech recognition to analyze a voice interaction and verify compliance of an agent reading a script to a client during the voice interaction. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include conducting the voice interaction between the agent and a client, wherein the agent follows the script via a plurality of panels. From there, the voice interaction is evaluated via the plurality of panels employing panel-by-panel playback with an automatic speech recognition component adapted to analyze the voice interaction. As such, it may be determined, via generating a score using confidence level thresholds of an automatic speech recognition component such that confidence level thresholds are assigned to each of the plurality of panels and evaluating the score against at least one of a static standard and a varying standard, whether the agent has adequately followed the script. |
| US08352274B2 |
Sound determination device, sound detection device, and sound determination method for determining frequency signals of a to-be-extracted sound included in a mixed sound
A sound determination device (100) includes: an FFT unit (2402) which receives a mixed sound including a to-be-extracted sound and a noise, and obtains a frequency signal of the mixed sound for each of a plurality of times included in a predetermined duration; and a to-be-extracted sound determination unit (101 (j)) which determines, when the number of the frequency signals at the plurality of times included in the predetermined duration is equal to or larger than a first threshold value and a phase distance between the frequency signals out of the frequency signals at the plurality of times is equal to or smaller than a second threshold value, each of the frequency signals with the phase distance as a frequency signal of the to-be-extracted sound. The phase distance is a distance between phases of the frequency signals when a phase of a frequency signal at a time t is ψ(t) (radian) and the phase is represented by ψ′(t)=mod 2π(ψ(t)−2πft) (where f is an analysis-target frequency). |
| US08352271B2 |
Facilitating text-to-speech conversion of a username or a network address containing a username
To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a username, a first or last name of a user associated with the username may be retrieved, and a pronunciation of the username may be determined based at least in part on whether the name forms at least part of the username. To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a domain name having a top level domain and at least one other level domain, a pronunciation for the top level domain may be determined based at least in part upon whether the top level domain is one of a predetermined set of top level domains. Each other level domain may be searched for one or more recognized words therewithin, and a pronunciation of the other level domain may be determined based at least in part on an outcome of the search. The username and domain name may form part of a network address such as an email address, URL or URI. |
| US08352270B2 |
Interactive TTS optimization tool
An interactive prompt generation and TTS optimization tool with a user-friendly graphical user interface is provided. The tool accepts HTS abstraction or speech recognition processed input from a user to generate an enhanced initial waveform for synthesis. Acoustic features of the waveform are presented to the user with graphical visualizations enabling the user to modify various parameters of the speech synthesis process and listen to modified versions until an acceptable end product is reached. |
| US08352268B2 |
Systems and methods for selective rate of speech and speech preferences for text to speech synthesis
Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized form text strings associated with media assets. A text string may be normalized and its native language determined for obtaining a target phoneme for providing human-sounding speech in a language (e.g., dialect or accent) that is familiar to a user. The algorithms may be implemented on a system including several dedicated render engines. The system may be part of a back end coupled to a front end including storage for media assets and associated synthesized speech, and a request processor for receiving and processing requests that result in providing the synthesized speech. The front end may communicate media assets and associated synthesized speech content over a network to host devices coupled to portable electronic devices on which the media assets and synthesized speech are played back. |
| US08352263B2 |
Method for speech recognition on all languages and for inputing words using speech recognition
The invention can recognize all languages and input words. It needs m unknown voices to represent m categories of known words with similar pronunciations. Words can be pronounced in any languages, dialects or accents. Each will be classified into one of m categories represented by its most similar unknown voice. When user pronounces a word, the invention finds its F most similar unknown voices. All words in F categories represented by F unknown voices will be arranged according to their pronunciation similarity and alphabetic letters. The pronounced word should be among the top words. Since we only find the F most similar unknown voices from m (=500) unknown voices and since the same word can be classified into several categories, our recognition method is stable for all users and can fast and accurately recognize all languages (English, Chinese and etc.) and input much more words without using samples. |
| US08352262B2 |
Speech recognition circuit and method
A speech recognition circuit comprising a circuit for providing state identifiers which identify states corresponding to nodes or groups of adjacent nodes in a lexical tree, and for providing scores corresponding to said state identifiers, the lexical tree comprising a model of words; a memory structure for receiving and storing state identifiers identified by a node identifier identifying a node or group of adjacent nodes, the memory structure being adapted to allow lookup to identify particular state identifiers, reading of the scores corresponding to the state identifiers, and writing back of the scores to the memory structure after modification of the scores; an accumulator for receiving score updates corresponding to particular state identifiers from a score update generating circuit which generates the score updates using audio input, for receiving scores from the memory structure, and for modifying the scores by adding the score updates to the scores; and a selector circuit for selecting at least one node or group of adjacent nodes of the lexical tree according to the scores. |
| US08352259B2 |
Methods and apparatus for audio recognition
Frequencies from a set of audio source files are extracted and measured across the set to determine a range of each of the frequencies. Stable frequencies of the frequencies are detected based on each range and used to create a stable frequency family. An unknown recording is mapped to the stable frequency family to form an audio fingerprint. |
| US08352254B2 |
Fixed code book search device and fixed code book search method
A fixed code book (FCB) search device simplifies an error minimizing process and reduces a calculation amount so as to prevent deterioration of a coding performance. The FCB search device includes a pulse shape convolution inverse filter having an inverse feature of a pulse diffusion filter and supplied with an ideal residual signal; a pulse candidate preparatory selector that pre-selects a plurality of pulse candidates from the ideal residual signal to which the inverse filter is applied; and a pulse candidate final selector that finally selects one pulse from the selected candidates. Using this configuration, a search is made for an algebra code book to which the pulse diffusion is applied. |
| US08352253B2 |
Speech coder and speech decoder
A vector quantization apparatus performs coding of a linear predictive coding coefficient by multi-stage vector quantization. A first codebook and a second codebook store code vectors, and a storing section stores scalars. A first quantizing section extracts a first code vector stored in the first codebook and performs first stage quantization for quantizing a target vector using the first code vector. A second quantizing section extracts a second code vector stored in the second codebook, calculates a third code vector by multiplying the second code vector and one of the scalars stored in the storing section, performs distance calculation using the target vector, the first code vector and the third code vector, and performs second stage quantization for quantizing the target vector using a result of the distance calculation. Each scalar stored in the storing section is associated with at least one of the vectors stored in the first codebook. |
| US08352247B2 |
Statistical stemming
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating suffix rewriting rules. A method includes obtaining a plurality of canonical suffix-rewriting rules each associated with one or more words, generating a suffix tree from the words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of final suffix-rewriting rules from the nodes in the minimum colored subset. Another method includes receiving applicable and non-applicable words for a suffix-rewriting rule, generating a suffix tree from the applicable words and the non-applicable words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of suffix-rewriting rules, wherein each rule corresponds to a node in the minimum colored subset with a valid status. |
| US08352242B2 |
Communication scheme between programmable sub-cores in an emulation environment
A system and method are disclosed for communicating in a programmable core. The programmable core is within a single integrated circuit and is divided into multiple independent sub-cores. The sub-cores are coupled together using a multiplexer based network. In another aspect, the multiplexer-based network includes multiplexers associated with some of the sub-cores for sending data and demultiplexers associated with other sub-cores for receiving data. In yet another aspect, a clock is included in the multiplexer-based network for synchronizing communication between the multiplexers and demultiplexers. |
| US08352240B2 |
Decoupling dynamic program analysis from execution across heterogeneous systems
Dynamic program analysis is decoupled from execution in virtual computer environments so that program analysis can be performed on a running computer program without affecting or perturbing the workload of the system on which the program is executing. Decoupled dynamic program analysis is enabled by separating execution and analysis into two tasks: (1) recording, where system execution is recorded with minimal interference, and (2) analysis, where the execution is replayed and analyzed. Recording and analysis are carried out on heterogeneous systems so that they can be separately optimized. |
| US08352234B2 |
Model generation based on a constraint and an initial model
A computerized system comprising: a processor; a first interface configured to obtain a constraint; a second interface configured to obtain a first model, wherein the first model is configured to be utilized in model checking, and the first model, when constrained by the constraint, comprises at least one finite path; and a finite path removal module implemented in the processor and configured to generate a second model equivalent to the first model obtained by said second interface, wherein the second model excludes a portion of the at least one finite path, and the second model is configured to be utilized in model checking. |
| US08352231B2 |
System for performing a co-simulation and/or emulation of hardware and software
The present invention relates to a system for performing a co-simulation and/or emulation of hardware and software. The system includes a hardware simulator with an integrated hardware model, a hardware and/or software environment for controlling the hardware simulator and performing a software simulation and/or a direct software application, at least one synchronization facility within the hardware model for indicating a request from the hardware and/or software environment, a receiver for setting the synchronization facility into a predetermined state, and a controller for switching the hardware simulator between a free-running state and a request-handling state. |
| US08352229B1 |
Reloadable just-in-time compilation simulation engine for high level modeling systems
A computer-implemented method of creating a simulation engine for simulating a circuit design can include receiving a source code contribution from a high level modeling system and receiving a simulation model specified in an interpretive language that specifies the circuit design. The source code contribution can be compiled together with the simulation model using a Just-In-Time compiler. A simulation engine, specified in native machine code, can be output as a single, integrated software component formed from the source code contribution and the simulation model. |
| US08352228B2 |
Method for predicting petroleum expulsion
A method for predicting petroleum production is provided. An exemplary embodiment of The computer-implemented comprises computing a first approximation of an amount of generated petroleum that is retained with a complex organic product using a Threshold and a Maximum Retention value. The exemplary method also comprises revising the first approximation by approximating a process of chemical fractionation using at least one partition factor to create a revised approximation and predicting petroleum production based on the revised approximation. |
| US08352227B2 |
System and method for performing oilfield simulation operations
A method for performing operations of an oilfield is described. The method involves selectively coupling oilfield simulators according to a predefined configuration, each oilfield simulator modeling at least a portion of the oilfield, a first oilfield simulator receives an oilfield control parameter as an input, identifying an uncertainty parameter associated with probable values each corresponding to a weighted probability, a second oilfield simulator receives the uncertainty parameter as an input, modeling the operations of the oilfield to generate an estimated performance by selectively communicating between the oilfield simulators, the operations of the oilfield are modeled with a predetermined value of the oilfield control parameter and at least one of the probable values of the uncertainty parameter; and identifying an optimal value of the oilfield control parameter based on the estimated performance. |
| US08352224B2 |
Stripwise construction of 3D curved surfaces
A 3D structure approximating a 3D curved surface having non-zero Gaussian curvature over a portion of the surface. The structure is formed of a plurality of thin strips (10) which are simply deformed and aligned adjacent one another to approximate the 3D curved surface. Each strip has: zero Gaussian curvature; a strip width which varies by no more than ±10% along a longitudinal axis of the strip; and a predetermined flat shape such that, after simple deformation, adjacent edges of adjacent strips can be aligned substantially parallel to one another separated by a substantially small gap. The aligned, simply deformed strips appear straight when viewed from a preferred viewing direction. The strips can be attached to a rigid support (12) at selected mounting points such that natural equilibrium deformation between the mounting points holds the aligned simply deformed strips in a desired approximation of the 3D curved surface. |
| US08352222B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient analysis of hybrid systems using template polyhedra
In accordance with aspects of the present principles, an over-approximation of reachable states of a hybrid system may be determined by utilizing template polyhedra. Policy iteration may be utilized to obtain an over-approximation of reachable states in the form of a relaxed invariant based upon template polyhedra expressions. The relaxed invariant may be used to construct a flowpipe to refine the over-approximation and thereby determine the reachable states of the hybrid system. |
| US08352217B2 |
Power control system
A system and method for controlling performance and/or power based on monitored performance characteristics. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first circuit module that receives electrical power. A second circuit module may monitor one or more performance characteristics of the first circuit module and/or the integrated circuit. A third circuit module may, for example, determine power control information based at least in part on the monitored performance characteristic(s). The power control information may be communicated to power supply circuitry to control various characteristics of the electrical power. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first module that monitors at least one performance characteristic of a first electrical device. The integrated circuit may also comprise modules that determine power control information based on the monitored performance characteristic(s) and communicate such power control information to power supply circuitry. |
| US08352216B2 |
System and method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system
A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes sensing actual values of an operating condition for an operating regime of the asset system using at least one sensor; estimating sensed values of the operating condition by using an auto-associative neural network; determining a residual vector between the estimated sensed values and the actual values; and performing a fault diagnostic on the residual vector. In another method, an operating space of the asset system is segmented into operating regimes; the auto-associative neural network determines estimates of actual measured values; a residual vector is determined from the auto-associative neural network; a fault diagnostic is performed on the residual vector; and a change of the operation of the asset system is determined by analysis of the residual vector. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention. |
| US08352212B2 |
Manipulable aid for dimensional metrology
A manipulable aid which is separate and distinct from the probe of a CMM permits a CMM operator to more directly interact with a CMM measurement volume to align a workpiece, configure a measurement path, and/or program a dimensional metrology application. |
| US08352211B2 |
Activity monitoring systems and methods
An activity monitor, comprises housing for attachment to a person; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, for processing signals from the accelerometer to assess activity of the person. A method assesses activity of a person, including: sensing acceleration at a first location on the person; processing the acceleration, over time, to assess activity of the person; and wirelessly communicating information indicative of the activity to a second location. |
| US08352210B2 |
Multiple accelerometer apparatus for counting rotations of an object, and methods of use
A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object. |
| US08352209B2 |
Network based configuration of a system using software programs generated based on a user specification
A system and method for online configuration of a measurement system. The user may access a server over a network and specify a desired task, e.g., a measurement task, and receive programs and/or configuration information which are usable to configure the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task. Additionally, if the user does not have the hardware required to perform the task, the required hardware may be sent to the user, along with programs and/or configuration information. The hardware may be reconfigurable hardware, such as an FPGA or a processor/memory based device. In one embodiment, the required hardware may be pre-configured to perform the task before being sent to the user. In another embodiment, the system and method may provide a graphical program in response to receiving the user's task specification, where the graphical program may be usable by the measurement system to perform the task. |
| US08352207B2 |
Methods for calibrating a fluorometer
Some embodiments provide methods for calibrating a fluorometer in order to account for one or more optical properties of a water sample affecting fluorescence measurements. In some cases one or more calibration solutions are prepared with sample water from a specific field site. Fluorescence measurements are taken from a water sample and one or more of the calibration solutions, and calibration parameters are determined based on the measurements. In some cases a calibration solution is prepared by spiking sample water to include a higher concentration of a fluorescent tracer and measurements are taken to characterize a calibration slope coefficient. In some cases a calibration solution is prepared by adding an acid and measurements are taken to characterize a background fluorescence in the sample. |
| US08352204B2 |
Method of detecting system function by measuring frequency response
Methods of rapidly measuring an impedance spectrum of an energy storage device in-situ over a limited number of logarithmically distributed frequencies are described. An energy storage device is excited with a known input signal, and a response is measured to ascertain the impedance spectrum. An excitation signal is a limited time duration sum-of-sines consisting of a select number of frequencies. In one embodiment, magnitude and phase of each frequency of interest within the sum-of-sines is identified when the selected frequencies and sample rate are logarithmic integer steps greater than two. This technique requires a measurement with a duration of one period of the lowest frequency. In another embodiment, where selected frequencies are distributed in octave steps, the impedance spectrum can be determined using a captured time record that is reduced to a half-period of the lowest frequency. |
| US08352201B2 |
Integrated circuit system for controlling structural health monitoring processes
A structural health monitoring system using ASICs for signal transmission, reception, and analysis. Incorporating structural health monitoring functionality into one or more ASICs provides a durable yet small, lightweight, low cost, and portable system that can be deployed and operated in field conditions. Such systems provide significant advantages, especially in applications such as armor structures. |
| US08352199B2 |
Airflow-sensing computer cursor generator and airflow-sensing mouse
An airflow-sensing computer cursor generator includes a microprocessor and plural air flow rate sensors. The plural air flow rate sensors are used for sensing airflow rates resulted from a moving action of an inductor in plural directions, thereby generating respective air flow rate signals corresponding to the plural directions. The microprocessor is used for judging a moving direction and a displacement value of the inductor according to the air flow rate signals, thereby generating a computer cursor signal. |
| US08352197B2 |
Method and arrangement for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell
The invention relates to an arrangement and method for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell (1). The arrangement is characterized by a return channel arrangement (8) for transmitting status information, established by the data processing means (7) of a data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1), from the data processing device (6) to an indicator device (9) arranged in connection with the electrolytic cell (1). The indicator device (9) comprises first presentation means (10) for presenting the status information established by the data processing means (7) of the data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1). The indicator device (9) is arranged to receive the status information established by the data processing means (7) of the data processing device (6) and to present said status information established by the data processing means (7) of the data processing device (6) describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1) by the first presentation means (10). |
| US08352195B2 |
Methods and systems for identifying PCR primers specific to one or more target genomes
Methods and systems for identifying a primer pair for polymerase chain reaction specific to one or more target genomes. Methods and systems of the present disclosure can be used to identify primers that can distinguish between target genomes and closely related non-target genomes. |
| US08352191B2 |
Seismic detection in electricity meters
An arrangement for recording seismic events includes an electricity meter sensor circuit, a digital processing circuit, and an accelerometer operably connected to the digital processing circuit. The accelerometer is configured to provide signals representative of seismic information to the digital processing circuit. A memory is configured to store data records relating to at least some of the seismic information. |
| US08352190B2 |
Method for analyzing multiple geophysical data sets
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for interpolating seismic data. The method includes collecting seismic data of two or more types over a field (401), determining an approximation to one of the types of the seismic data (402), and performing a wave-field transformation on the approximation to form a transformed approximation (405), wherein the transformed approximation corresponds to another of the collected types of seismic data. The method may also include setting the transformed approximation to match the measured seismic data of the corresponding types at matching locations (408), performing a wave-field transformation on the transformed approximation to form an output approximation (412), and using the output approximation to obtain a data representation of a geological layer (416). |
| US08352188B2 |
Apparatus for generating high resolution surface topology map using surface profiling and surveying instrumentation
A profiling apparatus configured to generate a high-resolution surface topology map of a surface using surface profiling data combined with surveying data. The apparatus is configured to collect both a plurality of survey sample points and a plurality of profile sample points of the surface. The profile sample points are then correlated with the survey sample points in the Z direction. Once the correlation is performed, the correlated profile sample points are merged or “filled-in” between the survey sample points. The high-resolution surface topology map is generated from the merging of the survey and profile sample points. In various embodiments, the survey data may be generated using an inertial profiler, an inclinometer based walking device, or a rolling-reference type profile device. |
| US08352187B2 |
Method and system for monitoring parameters of an aircraft
A monitoring system including two laser anemometers and a selection logic device able to select, on the one hand, a value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on first display means and, on the other hand, another value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on second display means. |
| US08352186B2 |
Vehicle navigation system and method
An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server. |
| US08352184B2 |
Message formatting system to improve GPS and IMU positional reporting for a vehicle
The invention generally relates to a system for generating and transmitting a telemetry formatted message containing raw Global Positioning System (GPS) information, processed Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) information corresponding to the position and attitude of a high speed vehicle in motion. This telemetry formatted message is received on the ground and used to improve Kalman filter operation. In particular, the telemetry formatted message is used as an input to a ground based Kalman filter that is set to track and predict the trajectory of the high speed vehicle. The telemetry formatted message content improves the overall operation of the Kalman filter by preventing Kalman filter resets that occur when a bit error is encountered in the IMU data and improves the time correlation of high data rate IMU information and low data rate GPS information, both necessary for accurate tracking of the high speed vehicle. |
| US08352183B2 |
Maps for social networking and geo blogs
A unique system, method, and user interface are provided that involve an integration of map technology with social networks so that individuals can select members of these communities with which to communicate based at least in part on their location, thus enhancing the communication experience. This can be referred to as geo-based messaging. In particular, a member or user of the system and/or method can include his/her personal location information, for example, when joining an online community or social network. This location information can be employed to generate one or more maps that plot the locations of messages posted by community members. As a result, a user can readily visualize any other users or community members located at any selected distance from him/her or from any selected focal point. |
| US08352182B2 |
Map data processor and method for processing information based on map data
A map data processor includes: a road map database storing a road map data having a link data with setting information of the link and road network information with connection information between links; a communication element obtaining a new link data with connection object setting information of a connection object link and coordinate information of one end of the new link from an external device; and a controller. The controller extracts a link data of a link in a predetermined geographical area with a center of the one end of the new link. The controller determines that the new link is connected to an extracted link when the connection object setting information matches the setting information of the extracted link data. The controller registers the new link data and connection information between the new link and the connection object link in the road map data. |
| US08352179B2 |
Human emotion metrics for navigation plans and maps
An enhanced navigation system allowing navigation route and destination planning according to user-specified criteria for the emotion state of persons along the route, at the destination, or both. The enhancement is accomplished by receiving a set of human emotion metrics corresponding to one or more parts of a navigation plan; determining if the human emotion metrics meet one or more user-specified criteria; responsive to not meeting the criteria, determining an alternate navigation plan until the user-specified criteria are met; and responsive to the criteria being met, presenting the navigation plan to the user for laying into a navigation system, and optionally during execution of the navigation plan updating the received human emotion metrics; repeating the determination against the user-specified criteria; and repeating the steps of determining an alternate navigation plan and presentation to a user responsive to the updated human emotion metrics not meeting the user-specified criteria. |
| US08352178B2 |
Method and device for generating and communicating geographic route information between wireless communication devices
Provided is a method, wireless communication device and computer program product for generation and communication of a geographic route from a first device to a second device. The method involves presenting a reference map using the first device; receiving route input using the first device, said route input indicative of the geographic route relative to the reference map; processing said route input with respect to a reference coordinate system to generate processed route information indicative of the geographic route; and communicating said processed route information to the second device. The method may further involve receiving and processing processed route information, using the second device, the processing performed at least in part based on the reference coordinate system and an output reference map to generate route output indicative of the geographic route relative to the output reference map; and presenting said route output using the second device. |
| US08352169B2 |
Method for assisting in the management of a flight in order to keep to a time constraint
Method for assisting in the flight management of an aircraft aiming to reach a constraint point on a predetermined lateral trajectory that is assumed to have to be followed by the aircraft, at a required time of arrival RTA, said aircraft occupying a current position defined by a current altitude with a current horizontal speed. The method including, when it follows a rallying flight plan, calculating a new rallying flight plan following the lateral trajectory to be followed and including a new estimated speed profile different from the estimated speed profile over at least one update area, the new estimated speed profile including, over said update areas, either a value greater than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is positive, or a value less than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is negative. |
| US08352163B2 |
Method for controlling an engine
A method for operating an engine is disclosed. In one example, the method adjusts a torque limit of the engine in response to an amount of EGR in an engine cylinder. The approach may reduce the possibility of pre-ignition for boosted engines. |
| US08352161B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
An exhaust valve early-closure control brings about blowback of exhaust gas into an intake system. However, if the exhaust valve early-closure control is executed, for example, during a first idle operation immediately following the startup of the engine, or the like, the amount of blowback exhaust gas becomes excessively large. Therefore, when the post-startup increase amount has decreased to or below a lower-limit criterion value, the ECU prohibits the exhaust valve early-closure control, and changes the control to a usual valve timing control. As a result, during a period during which the combustion state has a stability margin and the amount of emission of HCs and the like is large, the exhaust emission quality can be bettered by the exhaust valve early-closure control. Besides, when the post-startup increase amount has decreased, the combustion state can be stabilized by prohibiting the exhaust valve early-closure control. |
| US08352158B2 |
Method and system for compensating engine thermal conditions
A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions. |
| US08352155B2 |
Engine for an agricultural harvester having isochronous torque curve with power bulge
A method of operating an IC engine in an agricultural harvester includes the steps of: operating the IC engine in a normal mode with a base torque curve as a function of engine operating speed and engine power output, the base torque curve being generally isochronous at a rated operating speed over a power output range terminating at a rated power output; and operating the IC engine in a boost mode with a boost torque curve when a power boost is required above the rated power output, the boost torque curve having a power output which is above the base torque curve over a predefined range of the operating speed. |
| US08352153B2 |
Methods and systems for engine starting
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions and selectively reactivated during engine restart conditions. One example method comprises, during an engine restart from an idle stop, performing a first combustion event in a cylinder with a piston at an engine crankshaft position that is after a crankshaft position at which said cylinder's exhaust valve opens, and before a crankshaft position at which the cylinder's intake valve closes, during a cycle of said cylinder. In this way, inaccuracies in cylinder aircharge estimation may be reduced, thereby also reducing air-fuel ratio errors and improving the quality and repeatability of engine restarts. |
| US08352152B2 |
System, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing improved engine control
An apparatus for providing an antisurge operating mode for a turbocharged engine may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of engine operating parameters and engine accelerator pedal position, determine whether the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, and, in response to a determination that the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, initiate control of selected engine components by directing the selected engine components to operate based on stored engine operating parameters recorded a predetermined time prior to the determination. |
| US08352151B2 |
Electric current supply control apparatus for glow plug, and glow plug and electric current supply apparatus connected to the glow plug
An electric current supply control apparatus for a glow plug, and glow plug and the electric current supply control apparatus connected to the glow plug. In a transition state in which the load acting on an engine increases such as at the time of acceleration (S14: YES), an instruction signal which instructs increasing of an EGR amount is transmitted to an ECU (S18). Further, electric current is supplied to a heat generation resistor of a glow plug through resistance PI control (S20), whereby the temperature of the heat generation resistor is stably maintained at a target temperature, and stability of combustion is enhanced. Thus, even at the time of acceleration, generation of NOX can be suppressed effectively by increasing the EGR amount without lowering the engine output. |
| US08352150B2 |
Engine control apparatus
A storage unit provided in an engine control device stores three kinds of mode maps having different engine output characteristics. One of the mode maps is selected in accordance with the driving conditions, and a target torque is set by referring to the selected mode map using an engine speed and an accelerator opening-degree as parameters. A throttle opening-degree signal corresponding to the target torque is output to a throttle actuator, and an operation of opening or closing the throttle valve is performed in response to the throttle opening-degree signal. |
| US08352144B2 |
Method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system of a vehicle and corresponding system
In a method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) of a vehicle, wherein the electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) comprises at least one actuating element (BE), at least one brake mechanism unit (BME), and at least one control device (SG), in order to statically brake the vehicle, the actuating element (BE) is actuated and, depending thereon, the at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) is applied with a predetermined application speed (AV) controlled by a control and evaluation routine (SAR) run in the control device (SG). The vehicle speed (V) prevailing when the at least one actuating element (BE) is actuated is advantageously determined and the application speed (AV) of the brake mechanism unit (BME) is selected depending on the determined vehicle speed. |
| US08352140B2 |
Method and device for determining and dampening juddering vibrations of a drivetrain
A method of determining and reducing vibrations caused by a clutch (3) in a drivetrain (1) of a motor vehicle, in which the disturbing vibrations are detected by a control and regulating unit aided by suitable sensors and, if predetermined limit values are exceeded, at least one device is actuated by the control and regulating unit in such manner that the disturbing vibrations are completely eliminated or at least reduced in amplitude. At least one torque sensor (8, 9, 10) is used to detect the occurrence of vibrations in the drivetrain (1) and the torque sensor (8, 9, 10) is used to determine vibration amplitude. |
| US08352139B2 |
Vehicular power transmission control apparatus
An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a kick-down-condition is satisfied, a changeover operation for changing an electric motor connection state to the OUT-Connection State is firstly performed. Thereafter, a gear position shifting operation for increasing a transmission reduction ratio is performed. After the kick-down-condition satisfied, an E/G side output torque Te and a M/G side output torque Tm is adjusted in such a manner that a sum Ts of Te and Tm continues to increase. |
| US08352138B2 |
Dynamic control system for continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is provided having a driven element. The continuously variable transmission also has a first operator input device configured to transmit a first displacement signal corresponding to a displacement of the first operator input device. The continuously variable transmission further has a second operator input device configured to transmit a second displacement signal corresponding to a displacement of the second operator input device. In addition, the continuously variable transmission has a third operator input device configured to transmit a transmission operating mode request. Furthermore, the continuously variable transmission has at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter indicative of an operating condition of the transmission. Additionally, the continuously variable transmission has a controller configured to determine a driven element output request based on the operating request mode, the first displacement signal, the second displacement signal, and the at least one sensed parameter. The controller is also configured to regulate an output of the driven element in response to the operating mode request, the driven element output request, and the at least one sensed parameter. |
| US08352136B2 |
Vehicle control system designed to minimize acceleration shock
A vehicle control system for an engine-powered vehicle equipped with an engine and an automatic transmission with a clutch. When a given engine stop requirement is met during running of the engine, the system stops the engine automatically. When a given engine restart requirement is met after stop of the engine, the system restarts the engine and enters a clutch control mode to bring the clutch in the automatic transmission into a slippable state in which the clutch is permitted to slip based on the speed of the vehicle, thereby absorbing the acceleration shock which usually occurs upon engagement of the clutch to transmit engine torque to wheels of the vehicle when the engine is restarted, and the speed of the vehicle is relatively low. |
| US08352135B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle
In a method of operating a hybrid drive train for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a transmission, a first clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the transmission and the electric machine being arranged in parallel with the first clutch and being connectable to the internal combustion engine by way of a second clutch and to the transmission via a third clutch, the electric machine is connected by means of the second and third clutches to the internal combustion engine and to the transmission for assisting the first clutch transmitting an excessive engine torque, and upon failure of the first clutch, for starting movement of the motor vehicle, the third clutch is engaged and the electric machine is energized for transferring an electric machine torque to the transmission and the second clutch is engaged when the vehicle has reached a speed corresponding to the engine speed. |
| US08352134B2 |
Controller for vehicle continuously variable transmission
A controller for a vehicle continuously variable transmission is disclosed. When a target gear ratio is set as the maximum gear ratio and a vehicle speed is decreased to less than a first reference vehicle speed, the controller suspends varying of the gear ratio by the transmission control and starts a gear ratio hold control that releases operational oil from a first oil pressure chamber and holds the gear ratio at the maximum gear ratio. Further, the controller ends the gear ratio hold control and delivers operational oil to the first oil pressure chamber when the vehicle speed increases to a second reference vehicle speed or greater, which is lower than the first reference vehicle speed, and restarts the varying of the gear ratio by the transmission control when the vehicle speed subsequently increases to the first reference speed or greater. |
| US08352132B2 |
Automatic blade control system with integrated global navigation satellite system and inertial sensors
Disclosed are method and apparatus for controlling the blade elevation and blade slope angle of a dozer blade. Elevation and slope angle measurements are calculated from measurements received from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and an inertial measurement unit mounted on the dozer blade. The inertial measurement unit includes three orthogonally placed accelerometers and three orthogonally placed rate gyros. The measurements are processed by algorithms to calculate estimates of the blade elevation, blade vertical velocity, blade slope angle, and blade slope angular velocity. These estimates are then provided as inputs to a control algorithm which provides control signals to control a dozer hydraulic system which controls the blade elevation and blade slope angle. |
| US08352130B2 |
System and method for controlling a material application system
An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced. |
| US08352129B2 |
Motion control of work vehicle
A method for controlling a boom assembly includes providing a boom assembly having an end effortor. The boom assembly includes an actuator in fluid communication with a flow control valve. A desired coordinate of the end effector of the boom assembly is converted from Cartesian space to actuator space. A deflection error of the end effector based on a measured displacement of the actuator is calculated. A resultant desired coordinate of the end effector is calculated based on the desired coordinate and the deflection error. A control signal for the flow control valve is generated based on the resultant desired coordinate and the measured displacement of the actuator. The control signal is shaped to reduce vibration of the boom assembly. The shaped control signal is transmitted to the flow control valve. |
| US08352123B2 |
Control device of electric power steering device for vehicles in which steered wheels are driven
When the steered wheels are driven, there is a problem of the torque steering that the steering is disturbed by the difference in the driving forces between a pair of left and right steered wheels. Before such a problem, there is a problem that, since the vehicle is apt to run straight ahead more strongly as the driving force increases even when a uniform driving torque is given to a pair of steered wheels, a larger force is required to steer the vehicle leftward or rightward by overcoming such a tendency of running straight ahead. In view of the above, the steering assist force is increased according to an increase of the driving torque of the steered wheels in a manner of harmonizing the steering assist force to the magnitude of the steering resistance due to the driving torque of the steered wheels, so as to improve the steering feeling. |
| US08352122B2 |
Engine control apparatus and straddle-type vehicle
An engine control apparatus that effectively suppresses a rise in rotation number of an engine in a jump of a vehicle. An engine control apparatus includes an acceleration detecting device for detecting an acceleration component of gravity acceleration in a perpendicular direction of the vehicle body based on a signal inputted from an acceleration sensor, and a control circuit for judging whether the vehicle has jumped or not based on the acceleration component to be detected. The control circuit suppresses a rise in rotation number of the engine when the vehicle is judged to have jumped. |
| US08352110B1 |
User interface for displaying internal state of autonomous driving system
A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle. |
| US08352105B2 |
Unmanned underwater vehicle integrated radiation detection system
An unmanned underwater vehicle incorporates a structure having an integral scintillating material for a radiation detector and detection electronics connected to the radiation detector for measurement of the scintillation. A communication system is employed for transmission of scintillation measurement to a remote facility and a navigation control system provides for autonomous operation of the unmanned underwater vehicle or remote operation through the communications system. |
| US08352103B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a runway landing system
One non-limiting but advantageous aspect of the present invention relates to improved airport efficiency and capacity through higher utilization of a primary runway. The improvements derive from the use of one or more high-speed exit ramps that interconnect the primary runway to a high-speed landing way running parallel to the primary runway. The high-speed exit ramp(s) enable a landing aircraft to negotiate a high-speed transition from the primary runway to the high-speed landing way, so that the aircraft completes its landing roll out and transition to taxiing speeds on the high-speed landing way rather than the primary runway. In at least one embodiment, a computerized landing controller indicates to pilots of landing aircraft whether their aircraft are permitted to take a high-speed exit ramp via control of an associated high-speed exit lighting system. |
| US08352100B2 |
Relative navigation system and a method thereof
A method of providing a relative navigation system by projecting into space from a first object a grid that is repeatedly detected from a second object having a second relative reference frame associated with a second origin point on the second object and using range and attitude between the objects to adjust the attitude or range of at least one of the first and second objects. |
| US08352098B2 |
Flight control system and method of separating control lever linkage
A flight control system according to the present invention includes a first sensor, a flight control computer, a link mechanism, a separation unit, and a second sensor detecting a force transmitted from the first control lever to the link mechanism. The first sensor detects a force applied from an outside to a first control lever. The flight control computer determines whether or not sticking arises in the first control lever on the basis of the force detected by the first sensor and the force detected by the second sensor, and outputs a separation command to the separation unit when determining that the sticking arises. The separation unit disconnects the link mechanism on the basis of the separation command to separate a connection between the first control lever and the second control lever. |
| US08352096B2 |
Semiconductor data processing device and data processing system
The present invention provides an arrangement for enabling a plurality of central processing units to share specific resources while ensuring overall reliability owing to domain separation. More specifically, in a semiconductor data processing device comprising a plurality of access management circuits for managing access to resource units that are sharable by the central processing units via an internal bus, each of the access management circuits performs permission/inhibition control for access from the central processing units to the resource units according to a setting state of a domain setup register so as to allow domain separation of the resource units for each of the central processing units, and through use of a priority access permission control function for specific resource units selectively recognized by the access management circuits as resources sharable by the central processing units, access from one of the central processing units that is identified by register setting data is given higher priority than access from the other central processing units. |
| US08352095B2 |
Electric power generation device, electric power demand device, and electric power control system, and method of controlling electric power
An electric power generation device includes: a storage unit that stores information about the electric power generation device; a transmitting unit that transmits information about the electric power generation device to a neighboring electric power demand device; a receiving unit that receives an electric power demand request from the neighboring electric power demand device; and an allocation unit that allocates electric power according to the electric power demand request. |
| US08352092B2 |
Method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management
A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency. |
| US08352091B2 |
Distributed grid-interactive photovoltaic-based power dispatching
In one embodiment, each of a plurality of sites may produce surplus power. All or a fraction of the surplus power may be supplied to the power grid according to an agreement between the user of a site and an electric utility. A computer of the utility is in communication with a computer at each of a plurality of sites having a local power source. Terms of power provision that include an amount of power to be provided during a specified time of day is communicated between a site and the utility. |
| US08352088B2 |
System and a method for optimising and providing power to a core of a valve
A system for optimizing power to a valve core movable between first and second positions includes a controller providing a control signal to the core. With the core in the first position, the control signal has a hold voltage, and the controller measures a first self inductance. The control signal is provided with an inrush voltage to move the core to the second position, and with the hold voltage to retain it there. With the core in the second position, the controller measures a second self inductance, decreases the hold voltage, and measures a third self inductance representing the core's actual position. The controller determines, by comparing either the first or second self inductance with the third self inductance, whether the core is in the first or second position. If the core is in the second position, the decreased hold voltage is applied for retaining the core there. |
| US08352085B2 |
Distribution of cooling resources using hierarchically identified cooling microgrids
In a method for distributing cooling resources to a plurality of locations using a plurality of hierarchically identified cooling microgrids, conditions detected at the plurality of locations are received. Each level of the hierarchically identified cooling microgrids is a plurality of resource actuators configured to vary distribution of the cooling resources. Settings for the plurality of resource actuators in each of the levels in the cooling microgrid hierarchy that substantially maintain conditions at the plurality of locations within predetermined ranges are determined using a processor, while substantially optimizing at least one measure of performance associated with supplying the cooling resources to the plurality of locations. |
| US08352084B2 |
Renewable electricity generation system, electric power measurement device and method
A solar power generation system comprising: plural customers each having a solar panel, a power convertor for converting DC output from the solar panel into AC output, an output controller for suppressing the power convertor output which becomes higher than a predetermined value, a measuring unit for measuring the amount of sold power, the amount of purchased power and the amount of generation-suppressed power; and an watt-hour meter measurement data adjusting unit linked with the plural customers via communication lines. The watt-hour meter measurement data adjusting unit calculates provisional generation-suppressed power amounts that make the burdens of the customers even, and calculates the power amounts to be sold by the customers on the basis of the provisional generation-suppressed power amounts. Thus, the generation-suppressed power of the solar power generation system can stabilize the power system and the chances for selling power can be fairly allocated to customers having solar panels. |
| US08352082B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for displaying energy savings from an HVAC system
A method and system of determining and displaying energy savings from an HVAC system operating in an energy saving mode. The HVAC system is operated to maintain a comfort mode temperature during a learning period. The energy consumed by the HVAC system at multiple outside ambient conditions during the learning period is determined. The correlation between a specific ambient condition and energy consumed by the HVAC system is determined. The HVAC system is run to maintain an energy saving setpoint temperature. The energy consumed by the HVAC system is determined at an ambient condition while maintaining the energy saving setpoint temperature. The energy savings are calculated as a function of the difference between the energy that would have been consumed by the HVAC system at the ambient condition based on the determined correlation and the energy consumed by the HVAC system while maintaining the energy saving setpoint temperature at the ambient condition. |
| US08352080B2 |
Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
An HVAC data processing and communication network includes a subnet controller and at least one demand unit. A bus interface device associated with the demand unit is configured to receive a demand message from the subnet controller over the network. The bus interface device controls an operation of said demand unit in response to said demand message. |
| US08352073B2 |
Mobile device for irradiation and detection of radiation
A mobile equipment endowed with a neutrons source possibly in combination with other radiation sources including a robot system that, moving on a controlled trajectory, realize the conditions to observe from different positions the radiation emerging from a specimen either mobile or fixed, properly irradiated, is described. |
| US08352071B2 |
Method of blending fuels and related system
A method and related system blend fuels and dispense a blended fuel to a vehicle at a fueling station. In one aspect, the method comprises selecting the desired proportion of at least one of the fuels available at the service station, blending that fuel with another one available, and delivering the blended fuel to the vehicle. Preferably, the first fuel is a non-renewable, petroleum based one, while the second fuel is a non-petroleum based, renewable one (such as ethanol or biodiesel). |
| US08352070B2 |
Nail polish color selection system
A user interactive custom nail polish color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business, including for both point of sale and remote (e.g., via internet) transactions. |
| US08352069B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and display method for substrate processing apparatus
During a carrying operation, the position, transportation origin, and transportation destination of a carrier or a boat can be easily checked. A carrying system is configured to carry a substrate, a manipulation unit is configured to display an operation state of the carrying system on a manipulation screen, and a control unit is configured to control an operation of the carrying system. The manipulation unit displays a carrying system icon indicating the carrying system which is a carrying target object and a carrying-out icon at predetermined positions of the manipulation screen corresponding to a transportation origin of the carrying system, and a carrying-in icon at a predetermined position of the manipulation screen corresponding to the transportation destination of the carrying system. |
| US08352066B2 |
Machine tool, operating method for a machine tool and objects associated therewith
A machine tool with a main positioning device for positioning a main support element in a translational linear direction within a main region of displacement is provided. A main machining device and an accessory machining device are arranged on the main support element. The machining devices have pivoting devices for pivoting the machining heads in a rotatory basic pivoting direction. Every accessory pivoting device is connected to the main support element via a respective supplementary accessory positioning device for positioning the respective accessory machining head in the translational linear direction relative to the main support element within a respective supplementary accessory region of displacement. |
| US08352063B2 |
Apparatus for detecting break in warp yarn in loom
An apparatus for detecting a break in a warp yarn in a loom includes a heald, a heald frame, a carrier rod, a sensor, a controller and a signal line. The heald is made of a resin material for guiding a warp yarn. The heald frame performs a shedding operation of warp yarns and has the carrier rod for supporting a plurality of the healds. The sensor is provided in the heald for sensing a deformation of the heald caused by a tension of the warp yarn and outputting a signal. The controller is provided for determining a condition of the break in the warp yarn based on the signal of the sensor. The signal line electrically connects to the sensor and the controller. |
| US08352062B2 |
Advanced process control for gate profile control
A method for fabricating a integrated circuit with improved performance is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate; performing a plurality of processes to form a gate stack over the substrate, wherein the gate stack comprises a gate layer; measuring a grain size of the gate layer after at least one of the plurality of processes; determining whether the measured grain size is within a target range; and modifying a recipe of at least one of the plurality of processes if the measured grain size of the gate layer is not within the target range. |
| US08352055B2 |
Method for implementing production processes and system for executing the method
A method for implementing production processes includes a step of programming a state machine for each production process. The programming step includes a definition of a plurality of states and a definition of a plurality of transitions between states, corresponding to possible actions which the corresponding production process may execute. The programming step further includes the steps of detecting whether or not one or more states to be defined for a state machine have already been defined for state machines already programmed for other production processes, and executing the definition of states only for states not detected in the detecting step. |
| US08352048B2 |
Method and electronic device for compensation of the hysteresis of pneumatically driven fittings
A method and an electronic device for compensation of the hysteresis of a pneumatically driven fitting having an electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve is driven by a position regulator and is used in a closed control loop for position regulation of a switching element of an pneumatic actuating drive for operation of the fitting. Hysteresis of the pneumatically driven fitting is compensated for by the position regulator via at least one hysteresis correction factor. The control-engineering compensation for the hysteresis is carried out separately for a first basic case of starting or reversing a switching element and for a second basic case of continuous movement of the switching element, such that a dominant static friction is compensated for in the first basic case and the dominant sliding friction is compensated for in the second basic case, and the pneumatic actuating drive operates the switching element matched thereto. |
| US08352041B2 |
Remote controls and ambulatory medical systems including the same
Remote controls, including a communication device, a button or other communication device actuator and a movable structure that allows actuation of the actuator in one position and prevents actuation of the actuator in another position to prevent inadvertent signal transmission. |
| US08352036B2 |
Respiratory muscle activation by spinal cord stimulation
A method of electrically stimulating the inspiratory muscles in a subject is provided. The method includes positioning one or more electrodes at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord of the subject and operating the electrode to deliver high frequency electrical stimulation to the spinal cord tracts at the level or levels. The high frequency electrical stimulation of the spinal cord results in the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and accessory muscles in the subject to effect artificial ventilation in the subject. |
| US08352032B2 |
Monitoring right ventricular hemodynamic function during pacing optimization
Method and systems related to monitoring right ventricular function during pacing by a cardiac rhythm management device are described. One or more pacing parameters are selected to provide cardiac resynchronization therapy. For example, the one or more pacing parameters may be selected to provide an optimal or improved therapy. The heart is paced using the selected pacing parameters. While pacing with the selected parameters, pressure is sensed via a pressure sensor disposed the pulmonary artery. The sensed pressure is analyzed to determine right ventricular function achieved during the pacing using the selected pacing parameters. A signal, such as an alert signal or control signal, is generated based on the right ventricular function achieved during the pacing. |
| US08352029B2 |
Flexible neural stimulation engine
A method for implementing a neural stimulation therapy mode in an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising the acts of mapping respective device states, defined by one or more timer states that include at least one neural event timer or one or more indications of one or more sensed physiologic events, to associated device actions in a stored neural table, storing an event represented as a device status word and a time stamp in a queue in response to an action input, and comparing one or more current timer states or one or more indications of one or more sensed physiologic events to a device state contained in the neural table and, if found to match, causing performance of one or more associated device actions, wherein the device actions include one or more of a neural stimulation energy delivery or a change in one or more timer states. |
| US08352025B2 |
Leadless cardiac pacemaker triggered by conductive communication
A leadless cardiac pacemaker configured for implantation in electrical contact with a left ventricular cardiac chamber and configured for leadless triggered left-ventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in response to conducted signals from a pulse generator. |
| US08352016B2 |
Data collection for electrical impedance tomography
The invention refers to a method for carrying out data collection on electrodes placed on a body for subsequent processing of an electrical impedance tomography image of a corresponding part of said body. In order to improve the resolution of electrical impedance tomography systems without noticeably affecting the signal-to-noise ratio, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing the electrodes on a peripheral line around the body, applying a current pattern from a current source to at least one pair of electrodes, and measuring differential potentials between pairs of electrodes, wherein at least one intermediate electrode lies in between each pair of electrodes for measuring the differential potentials and the differential potentials of one current pattern for the subsequent image processing refer to at least three different pairs of electrodes with no electrode used more than twice for each current pattern. |
| US08352014B2 |
Site marker visible under multiple modalities
A site marker is provided that includes a generally hollow body defining a cavity. A deployment line within the site marker positions at least one marker element within the body portion. The deployment line has a first end that is fixedly secured to a first end of the body portion and a second end that is secured to a second end of the body portion. The deployment line is pre-biased so as to pull the first end of the body portion towards the second end of the body portion, and thereby expand the body portion. |
| US08352013B2 |
Method and system for motion compensation in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging
A method and system are provided for imaging by predicting, from multiple real time MR imaging data, motion of an object and subsequently obtaining high-resolution imaging data of the object using the predicted motion of the object. Thus, the process uses real time images to derive a history of the motion of the object and thereby generate a predicted trajectory of the object and then uses this trajectory to determine the projected position of the object during a subsequent, separate, high-resolution data acquisition phase. |
| US08352005B2 |
Noninvasive blood analysis by optical probing of the veins under the tongue
A method for analysis of blood components or parameters is disclosed where a probe having an excitation outlet and a response inlet is placed in proximity to or in contact with a tissue of an underside of a patient's tongue over a big vein in the tongue so that an excitation signal exits the outlet, produces a response which enters the inlet for detection and analysis. |
| US08351998B2 |
Method of performing actions related to handover by a mobile station that is in power saving mode in a wireless mobile communication system
A method of performing actions related to handover by a mobile station (MS) in a wireless mobile communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the MS receives information from a base station (BS), wherein the information includes at least one action for performing handover and at least one condition corresponding to the at least one action. Furthermore, the MS transmits a request message to perform the at least one action based on the received information from the BS and receives a response message in response to the request message. Lastly, the MS performs the at least one action according to the received response message. |
| US08351991B2 |
Mobile terminal and computer program including a touch-sensitive internal state indicator
A mobile terminal, including a touch panel detecting a touch position; a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration; an assignment device configured to assign different vibration area patterns that define vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively; and a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched. |
| US08351988B2 |
Methods and systems for transmitting an information signal in a multiple antenna communication system
Methods and systems are provided for transmitting a plurality of information signals in a multiple antenna communication system. One or more information signals are coded using a plurality of coders to generate the plurality of coded information signals and an Inverse Fast Fourier Transformation is performed on each of the plurality of coded information signals to create a corresponding output signal. Each of the corresponding output signals are transmitted on a different antenna. Each of the plurality of coded information signals can optionally be separated into K signals. On the receiver side, a signal comprising K different frequencies is received on at least N receive antennas and a Fast Fourier Transformation is applied to each of the at least N received versions of the signal comprising K different frequencies to generate N*K low frequency signals. The N*K separate low frequency signals are then combined to recover a transmitted information signal, based on one or more transfer functions from each of a plurality of transmit antennas to each of the N receive antennas. |
| US08351981B2 |
Supporting multiple subscriber identities in a portable device using a single transceiver
According to one aspect of the present disclosure a terminal device includes a transceiver configured for wireless communications and a data processing system including logic configured to: determine whether the terminal device supports a plurality of subscriber identities; responsive to determining that the terminal device supports a plurality of subscriber identities, create a plurality of recurrent time slots for a communication channel of the terminal device; allocate for each subscriber identity a respective time slot; and enable wireless communications for the plurality of subscriber identities using the respective time slots via the transceiver. |
| US08351979B2 |
Camera as input interface
A portable handheld electronic device contains a camera lens and accelerometer to allow a user to control voicemail and call features by swiping his finger across the camera lens and/or tapping the device. Therefore, the user can comfortably input commands into the device with a single hand and without needing to move the phone away from his ear to apply these inputs. In another embodiment, the camera lens can also be used to control navigation of the display screen or a displayed document of the device. For example, if a user wishes to shift a scrollbar for a page displayed on the screen downwards to view the bottom of the page, the user should move his finger over the camera lens in an analogous downward direction. |
| US08351978B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting the gain of a receiver through a gain tuning network
A circuit is described. The circuit includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), a passive switching core (PSC), a transimpedance amplifier filter (TIA-filter) and a degenerative-impedance gain-tuning network (Zdeg network) having a first Zdeg network input lead, a second Zdeg network input lead, a first Zdeg network output lead and a second Zdeg network output lead, wherein the first Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a first output lead of the LNA and the second Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a second output lead of the LNA, and wherein the first Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a first signal input lead of the PSC and the second Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a second signal input lead of the PSC. The LNA, the Zdeg network, the PSC, and the TIA-filter together form a receiver. A receiver gain is adjusted by the Zdeg network. |
| US08351972B1 |
System and method for addressing dispatch stations
A system and method for dispatch communications are provided. A dispatch station can use one or more alias addresses for communicating with other dispatch stations. The dispatch station can register with a dispatch network for only one of the alias addresses or a number of the alias addresses. |
| US08351968B2 |
Wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communication within a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communicating within a wireless communication system. One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless communication system including at least one remote communication device configured to communicate a return link wireless signal; an interrogator including: a communication station configured to receive the return link wireless signal and to generate a return link communication signal corresponding to the return link wireless signal; communication circuitry coupled with the communication station and configured to communicate the return link communication signal; and a housing remotely located with respect to the communication station and including circuitry configured to receive the return link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to process the return link communication signal. |
| US08351967B2 |
Multi-antenna scheduling system and method
A wireless communication method and system using virtual MIMO (“V-MIMO”) are provided. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of mobile terminals arranged as a V-MIMO group are estimated. The one of the plurality of mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected mobile terminal is scheduled. The signal corresponding to the selected mobile terminal is cancelled. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for the signals corresponding to the remaining mobile terminals is re-estimated. The one of the remaining mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected remaining mobile terminal is scheduled. |
| US08351962B2 |
Logical paging areas
Paging of a mobile device within a mobile pool area serviced by two or more mobile switching nodes is reduced using logical paging areas. The mobile pool area includes a plurality of location areas, each serviced by the two or more switching nodes. In addition, the mobile pool area is divided into multiple logical paging areas, in which each logical paging area includes at least two location areas. Upon receiving a mobile terminated call for the mobile device, if the location area of the mobile device is unknown, the logical paging area within which the mobile device is located is determined in order to page the mobile device and deliver the mobile terminated call to the mobile device. |
| US08351961B2 |
System and related circuits and methods for detecting and locating cellular telephone use within a geographical area or facility
A system for detecting and locating illicit cellular telephone use within a facility includes an array of radio frequency (RF) receivers, each receiver being placed in a predetermined location in the facility, and a central server, the receivers being in electrical communication with the central server. The server commands a group or groups of receivers to tune to a frequency of interest and to perform detailed sample rate measurements of the RF signal level received at the receivers. The array of receivers is organized into a plurality of measurement areas covering widely separated areas of the facility or different buildings of the facility, and the plurality of receivers of a measurement area is organized into a plurality of measurement groups covering areas of approximately uniform RF propagation conditions. Each receiver scans a frequency band of interest non-synchronously and independently of the other receivers in the array. Also, each receiver is preferably a direct-conversion receiver. |
| US08351960B2 |
Telecommunication network and network management techniques
In a mobile telecommunications network including a micro base station, a method of controlling the micro base station includes: determining one or more registered users of the micro base station; determining a location of the one or more registered users; and causing the micro base station to transition between a first operational mode and a second operational mode depending upon the location of at least one of the one or more registered users. |
| US08351959B2 |
Spatially selective UHF near field microstrip coupler device and RFID systems using device
A system having a UHF RFID transceiver is adapted to communicate exclusively with a single electro-magnetically coupled transponder located in a predetermined confined transponder operating region. The system includes a near field coupling device comprising a plurality of lines connected in parallel with an unmatched load. The near field coupling device may be formed, for example on a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrically interconnected traces and a ground plane. The system establishes, at predetermined transceiver power levels, a mutual electro-magnetic coupling which is selective exclusively for a single transponder located in a defined transponder operating region. Also included are methods for selective communication with the transponder in an apparatus such as a printer-encoder. |
| US08351953B2 |
Frequency band class control for a wireless communication device
In a wireless communication system, a wireless access node provides a wireless communication service to wireless communication devices over a first frequency band class and over a second frequency band class. A control system identifies a subset of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class that have been in an idle mode for a time period that exceeds a threshold. The wireless access node transfers a signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices to transition from the first frequency band class to the second frequency band class. The wireless access node then provides the wireless communication service to at least some of the subset of the wireless communication devices over the second frequency band class. |
| US08351942B2 |
Signaling method to support geo-location emergency services
In a method to support geo-location emergency services in a wireless network, a request message is transmitted from a source base station of one vendor to a target base station of another vendor. For example, the request message might be sent subsequent to a wireless unit initiating an emergency services communication, where it is desired to determine the location of the wireless unit by radiolocation, or otherwise at the network level. Upon receiving the request message, the target base station transmits a report message to the source base station, which includes a one-way transmission delay (or other propagation delay information) of the wireless unit as measured at the target base station. Communication protocols in the network are configured so that there are no automatic transmissions of propagation delay information. Instead, base stations transmit propagation delay information only upon the receipt of request messages requesting the information. |
| US08351933B2 |
Managing sponsored content based on usage history
Improved search capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment. |
| US08351932B2 |
Method and system for international roaming and call bridging
Disclosed is an enhanced system and method for bridging calls across telecommunications networks, including an illustrative application of the invention as it relates to international roaming among prepaid wireless subscribers. For instance, whenever wireless subscribers roam internationally they may invoke the system by keying in an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) short code followed by the number to be dialed. Said subscriber's prepaid account is then decremented in real-time (until such account is fully depleted). A key feature of the disclosure generally is the bridging of the call legs between the wireless subscriber initiating the telephone communication and that of the receiving party through a series of general purpose databases and computers without requiring modifications to existing core network or handset infrastructure. |
| US08351931B2 |
Roaming retrying method under pre-paging mode
The present invention provides a method for roaming retry under pre-paging mode. The method comprises the following steps of: during a pre-paging period, a called Mobile Station (MS) moving to a new location area and sending a location update request to a new Visitor Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (New VMSC/VLR); after receiving the location update request, the New VMSC/VLR sending a location area update message to a Home Location Register (HLR); after receiving the location area update message, the HLR sending a Send Routing Information (SRI) Ack message including a Roaming Retry Indication identifier to a to a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC); after receiving the SRI Ack message, the GMSC triggering a roaming retry procedure according to the Roaming Retry Indication identifier, and completing the subsequent calling flow. |
| US08351928B2 |
Synchronizing DHCP and mobile IP messaging
Synchronizing mobility messaging includes receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address at a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The IP address is sent by a home agent of a mobile client, where the home agent has a mobility binding for the mobile client. A DHCP request requesting an IP address for the mobile client is received from the mobile client. The DHCP server assigns the IP address to the mobile client. A DHCP acknowledgement comprising the assigned IP address is sent to the mobile client. |
| US08351923B2 |
Mobile device and method for collecting location based user quality data
A mobile device executes software. The software collects realistic and accurate user quality information without degrading the user experience of the mobile device during the data collection process. The software operates as a background application, and may have a user interface, and the software is remotely controllable and updatable by an external server. |
| US08351916B2 |
Stealth mode for wireless communications device
A device is configured to enter a stealth mode in response to a trigger and/or triggering event. The trigger/triggering event can be a voice command, a depression(s) of a button(s) or pattern of buttons on the device, a keyboard and/or softkey entry, entry of a pattern on the display of the device, a designated movement of the device, detection of an event, and/or lack of detection of an event. The device activates the stealth mode without any indication to the user of the device that the device is activating the stealth mode. The stealth mode operates concurrently with all other functions of the device. A virtual secure channel can be established that allows communication with the device without providing an indication that the device is communicating via the virtual secure channel. A token can be utilized for authentication and to discriminate be stealth and normal modes. |
| US08351915B2 |
Method and system for status of application storing by using mobile communication terminal
The present application discloses a method of storing status of an application. According to some embodiments, whether a user of a mobile communication terminal made a selection to store the status of an application in a shortcut is determined. In response to the selection to store the status of the application in the shortcut, a single string value is generated and stored in the shortcut, where the single string value includes an application parameter and application status information of the application at the time of the storage of the single string value. If the single string value is selected by operating the shortcut, the status, at the time of the storage of the single string value, of the application is reinstated, and execution of the application is resumed according to the application parameter and the application status information of the application. |
| US08351910B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a user input from inertial sensors
A system and method for determining a user input based on movements of a mobile device. In a particular implementation, angular movement of the mobile device about at least one axis of a linear plane is detected. Linear movement of the mobile device along at least one axis of the linear plane is also detected. Finally, a user input is determined based on the detection of the angular movement and the detection of the linear movement. |
| US08351901B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for user equipment registration and authentication processing by a femtocell system
A system, method, and computer readable medium for processing registration and authentication procedures by an IP-based femtocell system are provided. The femtocell system includes a base transceiver station and a Session Initiation Protocol to Internet Operating System adapter. The femtocell system receives a registration message from a user equipment, issues a location update request on behalf of the user equipment, transmits a register message to a core network, receives an authentication request from the core network, and transmits an authentication challenge to the user equipment. |
| US08351896B2 |
Method to support emergency call through mesh network
A method is provided for managing an emergency call in a mesh network. The method comprises a mesh station receiving an emergency indicator indicating that a call is an emergency call. |
| US08351893B2 |
Mobile station and method for performing software functions
The invention relates to a method for performing software functions in a mobile station apparatus comprising several externally accessible keys, one or more displays and means for locking the keys. The presented method comprises the steps of detecting that one or more keys are pressed down when the keypad is locked, performing software functions when said one or more keys are pressed down while the keypad is locked, and showing the result obtained after having performed software functions on one or more mobile station displays. |
| US08351889B2 |
Frequency agile duplex filter
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter. |
| US08351886B1 |
Voltage regulator with a bandwidth variation reduction network
Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a voltage regulator with a bandwidth variation reduction network are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08351885B2 |
Auto-tuning system for an On-Chip RF filter
A Radio Frequency Receiver on a Single Integrated Circuit (“RFSIC”) is described. The RFSIC may include a mixer, a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) in signal communication with the mixer, and an on-chip auto-tuned RF filter in signal communication with both the mixer and PPL, such that the same PLL simultaneously tunes the frequency of the VCO and the frequency response of the auto-tuned RF filter. |
| US08351884B2 |
Diversity reception in radio receiver
A method, apparatus, and computer program for controlling diversity reception in a radio receiver are provided. The radio receiver is configured to either activate or disable the diversity reception according to an application type of an application requesting transfer of data. |
| US08351880B1 |
Saturation corrected power amplifier integration loop
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) module having a saturation corrected integration loop, which includes saturation detection and correction circuitry, an integrator, PA circuitry, and detector circuitry. An integrator output signal from the integrator is prevented from being driven toward a power supply rail in the presence of saturation of the PA circuitry by saturation correction of an input ramp signal. The saturation detection and correction circuitry receives and saturation corrects the input ramp signal to provide a saturation corrected input ramp signal to the integrator based on detecting saturation of the PA circuitry. Saturation of the PA circuitry is detected based on a difference between a desired PA output voltage, as indicated by the input ramp signal, and a detected PA output voltage, as indicated by a detector output signal from the detector circuitry. |
| US08351878B2 |
Radio apparatus, distortion correction device, and distortion correction method
When a distortion correction coefficient, which is calculated according to a signal input to a power amplifier and a signal output from the power amplifier, is larger than a first threshold, a distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the first threshold. When the calculated distortion correction coefficient is equal to or smaller than the first threshold, the distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the calculated distortion correction coefficient. |
| US08351871B2 |
Apparatus and method for interferometric frequency modulation to exploit cooperative interference in wireless communications
A method includes receiving a first wireless signal and demodulating data in the first wireless signal using a first demodulation technique. The method also includes receiving multiple second wireless signals simultaneously (where the second wireless signals interfere to produce an interfered signal) and demodulating data in the interfered signal using a second demodulation technique. The method could also include (i) determining that a single transmitter transmitted the first wireless signal and selecting the first demodulation technique in response and (ii) determining that multiple transmitters transmitted the second wireless signals and selecting the second demodulation technique in response. Determining that the single transmitter transmitted the first wireless signal could include determining that a fundamental frequency of the first wireless signal is below a threshold. Determining that the multiple transmitters transmitted the second wireless signals could include determining that a fundamental frequency of the interfered signal is above the threshold. |
| US08351869B2 |
Electric circuit tracer
A circuit tracer includes a transmitter that places one of first and second signals on an electrical circuit depending on whether the circuit is energized. A receiver detects the signals imposed on the circuit by the transmitter, with the signal strength indicating the proximity of the receiver to the circuit. The receiver detects which of the transmitter signals is present and thereby can also indicate whether power is present on the circuit. The receiver has first and second antennas, one optimized for wide area detection and one optimized for circuit breaker detection. The receiver has an OLED display that remains properly oriented for viewing regardless of the orientation of the receiver housing. The transmitter can have a clamp version that inductively couples to the circuit being traced. |
| US08351868B2 |
Radio status indicator
A portable communication device includes a status indictor in the form of a single multicolor generating LED. The single LED indicates radio channel and battery status. The LED is responsive to a menu button press to indicate a current channel by color. Channel change is indicated by changing to another color. The LED is also responsive to a power button on the portable communication device to generate predetermined colors associated with battery status. The use of a single LED eliminates the need for knobs or a display as part of the status indicator of the portable communication device. |
| US08351862B2 |
Device, system, and method of mitigating interference to digital television signals
Device, system, and method of mitigating interference to digital television signals. For example, an apparatus includes a diversity-based digital television receiver having a filter controller and at least first and second channel paths, wherein the first channel path includes a first Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) reject filter, the second channel path includes a second GSM reject filter, the second channel path is parallel to the first channel path, and the filter controller is to selectively switch an operational state of the first GSM reject filter. |
| US08351859B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication control method
According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus comprises a close proximity wireless transfer device, a closeness detection module and a device control module. The close proximity wireless transfer device executes a close proximity wireless transfer. The closeness detection module detects that the close proximity wireless transfer device and an external device are in a close proximity state. Power which the closeness detection module consumes is lower than power which the close proximity wireless transfer device consumes in an idle state. The device control module is configured to activate the close proximity wireless transfer device when the closeness detection module detects the close proximity state. |
| US08351856B2 |
Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast. |
| US08351848B2 |
Device, system and method of power-saving for wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of managing power saving mechanisms of wireless communication devices. For example, a wireless communication unit may relay communications between a wireless communication device and a base station, wherein the wireless communication unit is to manage a power-saving mechanism of the wireless communication device by scheduling one or more power-save periods for the wireless communication device, and transmitting to the wireless communication device a power-save message indicating the one or more power-save periods. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08351847B2 |
Power balancing in a cooperative communication network
A method of adjusting transmission power for data communicated in a mobile communication system, wherein data is transmitted from a source station to a destination station over a first route and a second route. The method comprises receiving a first transmission power control signal; wherein a destination station generates a second transmission power control signal, in response to receiving a quality measurement signal from the relay station for data communicated to the destination station over a combination of the first route and the second route; and adjusting data transmission power according to the first transmission power control signal. |
| US08351836B2 |
Heat generating roller, fixing device and image forming apparatus
A heat generating roller which generates a heat when magnetic flux is applied from outside, which has high ability to control an amount of heat generation of itself and which has sufficient strength, including a main heating layer made of a material having a low electric resistivity, a heat controlling layer made of magnetic metal including at least nickel, a heat insulation layer having a low heat conductivity, and a stiff metal core, in order as above from outside, wherein the heat controlling layer is annealed, and the heat controlling layer and the heat insulation layer are bonded to each other. |
| US08351832B2 |
Image forming apparatus with recessed transfer roller including grippers
An image forming method includes: feeding a transfer material to a transfer portion by gate rollers; contacting the transfer material with a transfer material grip member that is disposed on a transfer roller; holding the transfer material on an elastic holding portion which holds the transfer material disposed on the circumference surface of the transfer roller; transferring the transfer material held by the holding portion; and transferring an image at the transfer portion. |
| US08351828B2 |
Printer having an alternate scavenger geometry
A printer having a developer station for holding a supply of developer which includes magnetized carrier particles, a magnetized development roller, and an imaging roller proximate the development roller which collects carrier particles during operation of the printer. A scavenger proximate the imaging roller and the development roller removes the carrier particles from the imaging roller during operation of the printer which are then urged through a slot in the scavenger by the magnetized development roller. |
| US08351826B2 |
Image forming method, image forming device, and image forming program
An image forming method, includes a charging step of charging an image carrier; an image writing step of writing image data onto the image carrier; a developing step of developing a latent image area written by the image writing step on the image carrier; a transferring step of transferring a toner image developed by the developing step to a transferring member; an image writing position adjusting step of detecting a position of the image carrier where the image is written in a case where designated conditions are satisfied, and of adjusting an image writing position; and a voltage output control step of controlling voltages applied for charging, developing, and transferring in the charging step, the developing step, and the transferring step, respectively. |
| US08351820B2 |
Imaging unit and image forming apparatus that adjust and modify a gap between a photoconductor drum and a developer roller
An electrophotographic imaging unit includes a photoconductor housing, a developer housing, and a support. The photoconductor housing is configured to rotatably support a photoconductor drum. The developer housing is configured to accommodate developer and a developer roller. The support is configured to rotatably support the developer roller at opposite ends thereof. The photoconductor housing and the developer housing are hinged together at one side, and movable relative to each other at another side to open and close the imaging unit to sandwiched the support between the photoconductor housing and the developer housing when the imaging unit is closed. |
| US08351814B2 |
Image forming apparatus with fan for blowing air to transfer sheet
An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing part for fixing a toner image formed on a transfer material to the transfer material, a fan provided on the downstream side of the fixing part, for blowing air to the transfer material having passed through the fixing part, and an airflow control part for controlling the amount of air to be blown from the fan. When the basis weight of the transfer material is larger than a first threshold value, the airflow control part sets the amount of air to be blown to a value smaller than that in a case where the basis weight of the transfer material is smaller than the first threshold value. |
| US08351813B2 |
Power supply control for switching a state of supply of electric power
The device comprises a first power supply 204 supplying electric power in the normal mode, a second power supply 203 supplying electric power in the power-saving mode, a first switching unit 211 switching between supplying and stopping the supply of electric power from an external power supply to the first power supply, a second switching unit 502 switching between supplying and stopping the supply of electric power outputted from the first power supply 204, a control unit controlling the first switching unit 211 and second switching unit 501 using electric power supplied from the second power supply. In the power-saving mode, the first switching unit stops the supply of electric power from the external power supply to the first power supply. |
| US08351812B2 |
Printing control system and printing system
A printing control system includes: operation means configured to enter a first printing condition including information on the number of page images to be printed on one printing sheet and the total number of page images to be printed; display means; and control means. The control means compare ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions to a preset threshold value, and sets the first printing condition as the final printing condition when the ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions are less than the threshold value while causing the display means to display the one or more second printing conditions when the ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions are not less than the threshold value. |
| US08351811B2 |
Image forming apparatus with locking storage for output images
An image forming apparatus includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and to output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit. |
| US08351810B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling voltage of image forming apparatus
According to a method and apparatus for controlling a voltage of an image forming apparatus, a transferring roll resistance, which indicates the resistance between a transferring roller and a photoconductor drum, is detected by applying a first voltage to the transferring roller. A transferring voltage, which corresponds to the detected transferring roll resistance, is applied to the transferring roller with reference to a transferring table which corresponds to the paper resistance, and a transferring is performed on a printing paper by using a transferring roller to which a transferring voltage is applied. |
| US08351802B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a replaceable part
An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of controlling operations. The image forming apparatus includes a detachable replaceable part having an information storing unit that stores predetermined information, an information reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the information storing unit, a determining unit that determines whether the replaceable part is a genuine part or not based on the predetermined information read by the information reading unit, a display unit capable of displaying the predetermined information, and a control unit that determines a controlling operation among the plurality of controlling operations based on a determination by the determining unit. |
| US08351801B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a determining section that makes a determination when the apparatus transitions to a power saving mode of whether an image can be formed
An image forming apparatus has an image forming station for forming an image and a display unit for displaying specified information. A mode changing section switches a mode of the image forming apparatus between a first mode for waiting on standby with a first power consumption and a second mode for waiting on standby with second power consumption lower, than the first power consumption. A determining section determines whether an image can be formed after the mode is switched from the second mode to the first mode and a starting section starts the display unit when the determining section determines that no image can be formed. A notifying section generates a display on the display unit of information indicating that no image can be formed. |
| US08351799B2 |
Multiscale sampling for wide dynamic range electro-optic receivers
A method for multiscale sampling for wide dynamic range electro-optic receivers is presented. The method comprises obtaining a signal, reproducing the signal into first and second signals, scaling one signal with respect to the other, modulating both signals with the same modulation function, and utilizing the resulting vector response function to invert the response of the link over a greater dynamic range than would otherwise be possible with a single instance of the modulated signal. The sealed modulation response may be obtained by splitting the signal into two polarizations and utilizing a modulator having different response for the two polarizations, or by utilizing two modulators. |
| US08351797B2 |
Repeater and repeating method
A repeater is disclosed that transmits an optical signal using wave division multiplexing. The repeater includes a demultiplexing unit that separates plural channels contained in the optical signal, an adjusting unit that adjusts at least optical power of each of the channels according to a control signal, a multiplexing unit that outputs a multiple wavelength signal in which the channels are multiplexed, and a monitoring unit that determines a modulation scheme and a bit rate of the optical signal for each of the channels so as to generate the control signal. |
| US08351793B2 |
Free space optical communication with optical film
Devices and systems are provided for free space optical communication using optical films. Some embodiments involve using an optical film for the transmission and/or reception of light in a free space optical communication system. Some free space optical communication systems may involve devices, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, mobile communications devices, etc., that are configured for communication via an optical film. The optical film may be disposed on a device, on a wall, a window, furniture, etc., according to the implementation. Many types of free space optical communication systems are provided, including line of sight and non line of sight free space optical communication systems. |
| US08351791B1 |
Optical devices with built-in isolators
New designs of optical devices, particularly for adding or dropping a selected wavelength or a group of wavelengths as well as multiplexing a plurality of signals into a multiplexed signal or demultiplexing a multiplexed signal into several signals are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an isolator core is built into the optical devices to stop a reflected signal from an optical file in the optical devices. As a result, the optical devices are amenable to small footprint, broad operating wavelength range, enhanced impact performance, lower cost, and easier manufacturing process. |
| US08351790B2 |
Optical OADM transmission system with loopback
An optical transmission system including: first, second, and third stations; a main transmission path that bi-directionally couples the first station with the second station; and an optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) disposed on the main transmission path, the OADM branching light from the first and second station, combining light from the third station to the main transmission path; wherein the OADM includes an input determination unit and an optical path switching unit, the input determination unit detects the power of the lights, and determines whether each of the input lights is lost or not, and the optical path switching unit forms a loop-back route based on the determination. |
| US08351780B2 |
Imaging system for hollow cone spray
An imaging system to collect image data relating to a conical liquid film and its hollow conical spray emanating from an injector with a central spray axis includes a light source for emitting light into the film and spray generated by the injector; and a detector array located downstream from the injector along the central spray axis for panoramically detecting instantaneously for the entire film and spray the emitted light which has interacted with the spray to produce the image data. |
| US08351778B2 |
Method for adjusting brightness of image
A method for adjusting brightness of an image, suitable for an image capturing apparatus with a flash lamp, is provided. In the method, an intensity of a main flash of the flash lamp is raised, and a sensitivity is reduced. When the main flash is fired by the flash lamp, a raw image is captured according to the reduced sensitivity for calculating a brightness mean value. A gain ratio is calculated according to the brightness mean value and a brightness target, so as to use the gain ratio to compensate the brightness of the raw image. |
| US08351776B2 |
Auto-focus technique in an image capture device
Multiple sets of pixel values representing a captured image of a scene are received, with each set representing an image captured with a corresponding degree of focus. An image processor may identify a region of interest in the captured image, automatically determine the configuration parameters for a lens assembly to provide a desired degree of focus for the region of interest, and generate signals to configure a lens assembly. In an embodiment, the region of interest is a face, the desired degree of focus of the face is determined by computing a rate of variation of luminance of pixels representing the face, and the desired degree is the degree of the image having the maximum degree of focus. |
| US08351774B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization
A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a metal camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices. |
| US08351773B2 |
Motion sensing and processing on mobile devices
Handheld electronic devices including motion sensing and processing. In one aspect, a handheld electronic device includes a set of motion sensors provided on a single sensor wafer, including at least one gyroscope sensing rotational rate of the device around at least three axes and at least one accelerometer sensing gravity and linear acceleration of the device along the at least three axes. Memory stores sensor data derived from the at least one gyroscope and accelerometer, where the sensor data describes movement of the device including a rotation of the device around at least one of the three axes of the device, the rotation causing interaction with the device. The memory is provided on an electronics wafer positioned vertically with respect to the sensor wafer and substantially parallel to the sensor wafer. The electronics wafer is vertically bonded to and electrically connected to the sensor wafer. |
| US08351770B2 |
Imaging station and method for repeatable alignment of images
Embodiments of an imaging station and method for repeatable alignment of images are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the imaging station includes a rotatable stage and a monostand. The rotatable stage may include a structure to support sets of handles for positioning of a subject's hands for at least some of the body poses. A camera is positioned on the monostand for capturing images of the subject and is configured to allow the camera to be repeatably positioned with respect to the rotatable stage for each body pose. |
| US08351769B2 |
Heating apparatus, and steam generator and home appliance using the same
A heating apparatus and a steam generator that is capable of heating water to produce hot water or steam and an electric home appliance that is capable of washing, rinsing, drying, or sterilizing an object using the same are disclosed. The heating apparatus and steam generator include a heating member, a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure, a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating, and a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat. The electric home appliance includes the heating apparatus and steam generator. |
| US08351768B2 |
Media processing comparison system and techniques
A media processing comparison system (“MPCS”) and techniques facilitate concurrent, subjective quality comparisons between media presentations produced by different instances of media processing components performing the same functions (for example, instances of media processing components in the form of hardware, software, and/or firmware, such as parsers, codecs, decryptors, and/or demultiplexers, supplied by the same or different entities) in a particular media content player. The MPCS receives an ordered stream of encoded media samples from a media source, and decodes a particular encoded media sample using two or more different instances of media processing components. A single renderer renders and/or coordinates the synchronous presentation of decoded media samples from each instance of media processing component(s) as separate media presentations. The media presentations may be subjectively compared and/or selected for storage by a user in a sample-by-sample manner. |
| US08351767B2 |
Reproducing device and associated methodology for playing back streams
The present invention relates to a playback apparatus, a playback method, a program, a recording medium, a data structure, and a manufacturing method for a recording medium in which content to be played back can be switched between streams different from a main stream. A PlayList includes Main path for referring to Video and Audio within a main TS, Sub Path-A for referring to Secondary Video and Secondary Audio in a sub TS, and Sub Path-B for referring to Audio in a sub TS. STN_table( ), which is information for selecting Video and Audio in a clip AV stream file-0 as PlayItem-1 and selecting Secondary Video and Secondary Audio in clip AV stream file-1, or Audio in clip AV stream file-2 as SubPlayItem (SPI) which is simultaneously played back with PlayItem-1, is used. The present invention is applicable to a playback apparatus. |
| US08351766B2 |
Multi DVR video packaging for incident forensics
A system and method of exporting and playing video from different video recorders at the same time and in a single viewing window while maintaining the integrity of the video is provided. The method includes selecting a plurality of data collection devices, selecting a plurality of video data streams capture or recorded by the selected data collection devices, exporting the selected video data streams, packaging the exported video data streams, and playing the packaged video data streams substantially simultaneously. Each of the selected video data streams has a respective original format with some formats different from others, and each of the packaged video data streams is played in its original format. |
| US08351765B2 |
Television program recording with user preference determination
A system for recording television programs for subsequent viewing by a user includes a preference determination module which is responsive to attribute information associated with television programs viewed by the user. The preference determination module categorizes the attribute information in accordance with categorization parameters to generate recordation preference information, indicative of television program viewing preferences of the user. The system also includes a recordation module which is responsive to the recordation preference information, for causing recordation on a storage medium of subsequently transmitted television programs, having attribute information corresponding to the recordation preference information. |
| US08351762B2 |
Adaptive media playout method and apparatus for intra-media synchronization
Disclosed is a buffer-based adaptive media playout method in a receiver side of a network media streaming system. The method includes: calculating a playout interval for playing out a current j-th frame (where j is a natural number) of a received media stream; and playing out the current j-th frame after the calculated playout interval has elapsed from the reception of the current j-th frame. The calculation of the playout interval for playing out the current j-th frame of the received media stream includes: calculating a buffer level of a (j+w)-th frame (where w is a natural number); estimating a playout pause or a playout skip on the basis of the calculated buffer level; and calculating the playout interval for playing out the current j-th frame for the predicted one of the playout pause and the playout skip. According to the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to reduce the amount of temporal distortion, such as the RMSE value of playout discontinuity due to delay or jitter, as compared to the buffer-threshold-based media playout techniques according to the related art. |
| US08351760B2 |
Controller, recording device and menu display method
A recording device includes a recording medium operable to store a plurality of program streams and information about recording of each program stream, and a controller operable to control display of the program stream recorded on the recording medium on a display device. When receiving an instruction for selecting a predetermined item from among the plurality of selection items, the controller causes the menu image to be displayed, making the menu image include information representing programs corresponding to at least a part of the plurality of the program streams recorded on the recording medium, in addition to the plurality of selection items. |
| US08351758B2 |
Playback device, playback method and program
A playback time axis of a video stream is composed of a plurality of frame periods. To overlay a rendered image with a stereoscopic video image to be displayed in the i-th frame period, a process of writing to a left-view plan memory and a process of writing to a right-view plane memory both need to be completed before the start of the i-th frame period. To simultaneously request the two rendering processes, the argument of an application interface includes a pair of specifications, one specifying writing to the left-view plane memory and the other specifying writing to the right-view plane memory. |
| US08351754B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic storage of optical fiber cable slack during and after cable deployment
A technique for storing cable slack in an automatic and safe manner, to allow a plug and play connectivity for fiber optic cable installation between floors in multi-floor high-rise apartment buildings. A tamper-proof storage box is located in a prescribed location for which its footprint is intended, such as a utility closet in a lobby or basement. The box contains a number of reels of cable (bundles of individual optical strands), each reel's contents designated for a different floor in the building. As pre-connectorized strands are pulled from a rotatable spindle mounted in the storage box to its intended floor, any cable excess (slack) remains automatically on the spindle in the storage box in an out-of-the-way location avoiding tampering and tripping. This allows off the shelf lengths of cable saving time and expense. |
| US08351753B2 |
Panel mount
A cable management frame assembly including a collapsible frame chassis and a plurality of positionally configurable cable management fixtures that can be affixed to the frame chassis without the use of tools or additional hardware such as screws, nuts, or bolts. A panel mount allows patch panels and equipment to be mounted to the frame chassis without the use of tools or additional hardware. |
| US08351750B2 |
Flexible optical device
A flexible and optionally highly elastic waveguide capable of propagating and emitting light is disclosed. The flexible waveguide comprises a flexible material having a surface and an end, wherein a first portion of the light is emitted through at least a portion of the surface of the flexible waveguide, and a second portion of the light is emitted through the end. The flexible waveguide can be used, for example as an area illuminator for many applications. Additionally disclosed is a clothing device for providing illumination. The clothing device comprises clothing (or even optionally a sheet) and a light source for providing light. In one embodiment the clothing device comprises the flexible waveguide. |
| US08351748B2 |
Mask-less method and structure for patterning photosensitive material using optical fibers
An apparatus for patterning objects for the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits includes an optical source, multiple fiber cores coupled to the optical source, each of the fiber cores has an input end and an output end, and each of the input ends is coupled to the optical source. The apparatus further includes an array coupled to each of the fiber cores, the array is configured to allow each of the fiber ends to output toward a common plane, an object having a photosensitive material coupled to the common plane, and a pattern that is exposed onto the photosensitive material. The pattern is composed of a number beams corresponding to a number of fiber cores. |
| US08351747B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying cable connections in a computing system
A system includes a cable having a first end portion, a second end portion and a cable display module mechanically coupled to the first end portion of the cable. The cable has at least one optical fiber extending through the cable between the first end portion and the second end portion. The at least one optical fiber is configured to optically couple a first chassis with a second chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis and the second end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the second chassis. The cable display module is configured to be electrically coupled to the first chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis such that the cable display module receives from the first chassis an electrical signal representing an identifier associated with the second chassis. |
| US08351746B2 |
Optical fiber cable with improved waterproof performance
The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable with improved waterproof performance comprising: at least one tensile members; optical fiber units including at least one optical fiber cores; at least one buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber units; sheath covering the buffer tube and the tensile member to form a outer jacket of the cable, wherein a waterproof yarn is inserted longitudinally in the buffer tube with the optical fiber unit, and the thickness of the waterproof yarn is from 300 to 3,000 deniers, and tensile strength of the waterproof yarn is from 3 N to 150 N, and elongation rate of the waterproof yarn is from 5% to 45%, and water absorption rate of the waterproof yarn is at least 20 g/g.By the optical fiber cable, improve waterproof performance can be improved, and by minimizing the tensile strength of the waterproof yarn, possibility of break can be reduced. |
| US08351739B2 |
Device for removing mosquito noise and associated method
A device for removing mosquito noise and associated method is provided to adaptively determine a proper strength for removing the mosquito noise according to image complexities, thereby removing the noise while maintaining the quality of image details. The device includes a buffer, a lookup table, and a strength determining unit. The buffer stores a pixel matrix having a target pixel. The lookup table stores a plurality of coefficients. The strength determining unit, coupled to the buffer and the lookup table, detects the image complexities of the pixel matrix and looks up the lookup table according to the image complexities of the pixel matrix, so as to output a strength coefficient for removing the mosquito noise. |
| US08351738B2 |
Method of estimating at least one deformation of the wave front of an optical system or of an object observed by the optical system and associated device
The invention relates to a method of estimating at least one deformation of the wave front of an observation system or of an object observed by said observation system, characterized in that: at least one diversity image is acquired, in the vicinity of the focal plane of the observation system, in at least one diversity plane, the diversity image comprising a known diversity deformation; and in that in each diversity plane, an image model is determined based on at least one decomposition of the physical pupil of the system into a plurality of subpupils; a decomposition over each subpupil of the sought-after deformation in the form of at least one known deformation weighted by coefficients to be determined; a determination of the transfer function of the system by autocorrelation of its pupil; the linearization of each of the terms of the autocorrelation as a function of the coefficients of the sought-after deformation, the linearization being performed in the vicinity of the known diversity deformation; the object observed and noise; and in that on the basis of the image model(s) determined and of the image(s) acquired, the sought-after deformation(s) or the observed object is (are) estimated. |
| US08351737B2 |
Image processing apparatus
Provided is an image processing apparatus for performing a correction process with respect to object image data, the image processing apparatus including: a first determining unit that determines whether facial image data including a face of a person, which is extracted from the object image data, is attached to relevant object image data; a second determining unit that determines whether reduction image data of the object image data is attached to the relevant object image data; a selecting unit that selects the facial image data or the reduction image data as selection image data; a correction parameter setting unit that extracts a feature amount from the selection image data and sets a correction parameter for image correction based on the feature amount; and a correction processing unit that corrects the object image data based on the correction parameter. |
| US08351732B2 |
Method and apparatus for bit resolution enhancement and edge enhancement in an electronic device
A method and apparatus for bit resolution enhancement and edge enhancement in an electronic device are provided. The method includes determining a Contour Counter (CC) and determining a type of each region of the input image, determining a Bit Resolution Enhancement (BRE) parameter and an edge enhancement parameter of each region according to the determined region type, determining a first weight for each region of the image and enhancing a bit resolution of the input image, and determining a second weight for each region of the image and performing edge enhancement for the image. |
| US08351729B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for image correction
To perform image correction according to the features of an input image and output a fine and conspicuous image corresponding to a variety of scenes; an image correcting apparatus detects, from the pixels of the input image, the dark pixels that have the respective pixel values equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. Then, for each dark pixel having the pixel value equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the image correcting apparatus detects calculates the shading variation between the dark pixel and the corresponding surrounding pixels, calculates a correction amount based on the calculated shading variation, and performs image correction with the calculated correction amount. |
| US08351718B2 |
Image data processing apparatus, image forming apparatus provided with the same, image data processing program, and image data processing method
An image data processing apparatus including: a compression processing section that divides image data into a plurality of partial data in a prescribed size, generates link information showing a mutual arrangement of each of the divided partial data, and generates compressed partial data by compressing each of the divided partial data; a plurality of expansion sections that expand the compressed partial data respectively; a data controller that assigns each of the compressed partial data to any one of the expansion sections, and operates the expansion sections to expand the compressed partial data substantially simultaneously; and an image data storage section that stores each of the expanded partial data, wherein the data controller determines an area of the image data storage section, in which each of the expanded partial data ought to be stored, and an output order of the stored partial data, based on the link information and the prescribed size of the partial data, so as to restore the original image data. |
| US08351717B2 |
Dynamic image encoding device, dynamic image decoding device, dynamic image encoding method, dynamic image decoding method, dynamic image encoding program, and dynamic image decoding program
An object of the present invention is to encode and decode image information more efficiently by generating an appropriate predictive signal.The image encoding device of the present invention comprises an input section 201 for inputting an input image constituting an encoding target; a reference image accumulation section 202 for accumulating a reference image; a reference image accompanying information accumulation section 203 for accumulating reference image accompanying information which accompanies the reference image; an encoding section 206 for modifying the reference image and the reference image accompanying information in accordance with the input image, generating a predictive signal for the input image, and encoding the input image; and an output section 209 for outputting, as encoded data, compressed data obtained by encoding by the encoding means together with modification method information indicating a modification method for the reference image. |
| US08351707B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing system, and image processing method
Line images in horizontal and vertical directions are detected from input image data, and an intersection of the line images is calculated. the calculated intersection is regarded as a feature point of input image data. Thus, it is possible to easily and promptly extract, from image data, a feature point that allows specifying the image data appropriately. |
| US08351700B2 |
Variable glyph system and method
Using methods, computer-readable storage media, and apparatuses for computer-implemented processing, an image of handwritten text may be segmented into a disjoint component image corresponding to individual glyphs connected by ligatures. The disjoint component image is skeletonized into a grid graph, and a connected path traversing the ligatures is determined. The disjoint component image is segmented into non-overlapping segments based on connected graphs corresponding to edges in the disjoint component image, where sets of adjacent non-overlapping segments correspond to the individual glyphs. Glyph geometry may be varied by obtaining an ensemble of glyph representations, each characterized by measurable geometric glyph properties. For each geometric glyph property, target values are obtained from ensemble-wide statistical distribution functions, and the target values are used to transform a base glyph representation into a target glyph representation. |
| US08351699B2 |
Methods and apparatus for auto image binarization
A threshold determination method is selected from among a plurality of alternative global thresholding determination methods and, optionally, a local thresholding determination method based on characteristics of a histogram of grayscales values representing an image. When it is determined to use a global thresholding method, a single global binarization threshold value is determined using the selected global thresholding method. Various alternative global binarization threshold values include a predetermined constant, an average value of the two grayscale values, an Otsu method based threshold value, a Newton method based threshold value, and an Otsu method based threshold value based on a truncated version of the histogram. When it is determined to use local thresholding, a plurality of local binarization threshold values are determined corresponding to different non-overlapping blocks of the image. The determined binarization threshold(s) are applied to the gray scale pixel values to obtain a set of binary pixel values. |
| US08351697B2 |
Method for detection of film mode or camera mode
The present invention relates to a method for detection of film mode or camera mode of a video sequence. This detection is carried out using histograms of video levels of frames of the video sequence. Difference histograms are calculated then compared with each other so as to generate difference parameters for each video frame of the sequence. The pattern formed by these difference parameters is then compared with predetermined patterns to deduce the mode, film or camera, of the sequence. The advantage of this method is that it requires just small memory resources for its implementation and can therefore be implanted in an FPGA circuit. |
| US08351687B1 |
Bearing and expansion joint system including same
A bearing is provided for use in connection with expansion joint systems. The bearing may be incorporated into expansion joint systems that are used in roadway constructions, bridge constructions, and architectural structures. The bearing can absorb increased loads that are applied to the expansion joint system. The structure of the bearing also permits improved motion of, and provides improved support for, the components of the expansion joint system that are supported on or engaged with the bearing. |
| US08351684B2 |
Terrain map updating system
A terrain mapping system is disclosed. The system has at least one sensor configured to gather a plurality of current points defining a current surface of a site and a database containing a plurality of previously-gathered points defining a previous surface of the site. The system also has a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to compare a height of at least one of the plurality of the current points to a height of a corresponding at least one of the plurality of previously-gathered points and to determine if an update to the database is warranted based on the comparison. The controller is further configured to update the database if it is determined that an update is warranted. |
| US08351683B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
The invention is directed to find a false defect from defect candidates and obtain a threshold with which the false defect can be eliminated by the smallest number of review times. Defect candidates are reviewed and selected as a defect or a false defect. By deleting a defect candidate having a characteristic quantity equal to or less than that of the false defect from a map or displaying it in another sign, the false defect can be determined visually. Since the defect candidate having the characteristic quantity equal to or less than that of the selected false defect is deleted from the map or displayed in another sign, the defect candidates unnecessary to set a threshold are not reviewed. The number of defect candidates to be reviewed can be largely reduced as compared with that in the conventional technique. Further, by repeating the above work, the threshold is automatically calculated, and an inspection result map with the threshold is displayed, so that a re-inspection is unnecessary. |
| US08351682B2 |
X-ray examination region setting method, X-ray examination apparatus and X-ray examination region setting program
This invention enables information on a connection wiring with a substrate of a mounted component to be accurately and easily inputted in an X-ray examination apparatus. In teaching of a substrate examination, when a user inputs a two-dimensional region of a component to be examined with respect to a visible light image of the substrate, three-dimensional data is generated for the relevant region, which data is then analyzed to acquire a center coordinate, the number, the number of rows, and the number of columns on a ball terminal connecting the component to the substrate. Results such as the center coordinate acquired in such a manner may be displayed. The visible light image for the substrate is displayed in a display field of a screen. In the display field, a frame corresponding to a region acquired as an examination target is displayed in accordance with the visible light image, and a frame corresponding to each solder ball is displayed based on a position and the like of the solder ball acquired based on the three-dimensional data. |
| US08351680B2 |
Method for operating and/or monitoring a field device, and corresponding field device
The invention relates to a method for servicing and/or monitoring a field device (1) of process and automation technology. The invention includes that at least one photograph is taken of at least one section (2) of the field device (1), that the photograph is evaluated and/or processed in such a manner, that there results at least one piece of information concerning an access location (11) for field device data related to the field device (1), and/or information for identification of the field device (1), that a request for data is made to the access location (11), and that, in response to the request for data, field device data are supplied. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding field device. |
| US08351674B2 |
Image portion identification methods, image parsing methods, image parsing systems, and articles of manufacture
Image portion identification methods, image parsing methods, image parsing systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, an image portion identification method includes accessing data regarding an image depicting a plurality of biological substrates corresponding to at least one biological sample and indicating presence of at least one biological indicator within the biological sample and, using processing circuitry, automatically identifying a portion of the image depicting one of the biological substrates but not others of the biological substrates. |
| US08351672B2 |
Machine imaging apparatus and method for detecting foreign materials
A combined X-ray and laser 3D imaging system for food safety inspection, which uses a 3D laser subsystem to get accurate depth information, which is further combined with an x-ray image to achieve accurate physical contamination detection in poultry and other meat products. A unique calibration model is used to calibrate the x-ray and laser 3D imaging systems at the same time. And a nested multi-thread software structure is implemented to prevent data conflict and ensure fully use of system resources during the physical contamination detection of the poultry and other meat products. |
| US08351671B2 |
Motion correction in nuclear imaging
A radiation detection apparatus (100) acquires projection data of an object that is subject to motion during the acquisition. The apparatus includes a motion modeler (142) and a motion compensator (142) that cooperate to compensate for a motion of the object during the acquisition. In one example, the projection data includes list mode positron emission tomography data and the apparatus compensates for cardiac motion. |
| US08351665B2 |
Systems, processes and software arrangements for evaluating information associated with an anatomical structure by an optical coherence ranging technique
Software systems, arrangements and processes for evaluating an image associated with at least one portion of an anatomical structure are provided. For example, first information associated with the at least one portion of the anatomical structure second information associated with the at least one portion of the anatomical structure can be received. Third information can be generated by determining a relationship between the first information and the second information. Further, the image can be evaluated using a predetermined pathological scoring criteria and the third information. |
| US08351664B2 |
Biometric authentication device and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication device includes an accommodation unit and a detection unit in which the accommodation unit accommodates a card-type recording medium providing alternative information alternative to feature information such that the card-type recording medium is faced to the detection unit, with a biologic object absent, and the detection unit detects the alternative information from the card-type recording medium, thereby collating the feature information extracted from an image of the biologic object with the feature information recorded in a memory in the case of placing the finger into the accommodation unit, and collating the alternative information from the card-type recording medium with the alternative information recorded in the memory in the case of placing the card-type recording medium into the accommodation unit. |
| US08351662B2 |
System and method for face verification using video sequence
Face verification is performed using video data. The two main modules are face image capturing and face verification. In face image capturing, good frontal face images are captured from input video data. A frontal face quality score discriminates between frontal and profile faces. In face verification, a local binary pattern histogram is selected as the facial feature descriptor for its high discriminative power and computational efficiency. Chi-Square (χ2) distance between LBP histograms from two face images are then calculated as a face dissimilarity measure. The decision whether or not two images belong to the same person is then made by comparing the corresponding distance with a pre-defined threshold. Given the fact that more than one face images can be captured per person from video data, several feature based and decision based aggregators are applied to combine pair-wise distances to further improve the verification performance. |
| US08351661B2 |
System and method to assign a digital image to a face cluster
A computer implemented method includes accessing a digital image including a plurality of faces including a first face and a second face. The computer implemented method includes identifying a plurality of identification regions of the digital image including a first identification region associated with the first face and a second identification region associated with the second face. The computer implemented method also includes assigning the digital image to a first face cluster of a plurality of face clusters when a difference between data descriptive of the first identification region and data descriptive of a face cluster identification region of the first face cluster satisfies a threshold. The computer implemented method further includes assigning the digital image to a second face cluster of the plurality of face clusters based at least partially on a probability of the second face and the first face appearing together in an image. |
| US08351660B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting specific object pattern from image
A face area is detected from an image captured by an image pickup device, pixel values of the image are adjusted based on information concerning the detected face area, a person area is detected from the adjusted image, and the detected face area is integrated with the detected person area. With this configuration, it is possible to accurately detect an object even in a case, for example, where the brightness is varied. |
| US08351657B2 |
Method for the viewing of visual information with an electronic device
The invention relates to a method, which comprises the capturing of image data representing a physical object using an electronic device. First visual objects are determined in the image data. Second objects are determined among the first visual objects. Position information is determined for the second visual objects within the physical object. Third visual object are obtained based on the position information from object data storage. The third visual objects are matched to the first visual objects and differences between third visual objects and the first visual object are indicated to a user. |
| US08351656B2 |
Remote contactless stereoscopic mass estimation system
A contactless system and method for estimating the volume, mass or weight of a target animal is provided. First, the target animal is imaged, preferably with a stereoscopic camera. A spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the stereoscopic images. Next, a virtual three-dimensional spatial model is provided, preferably having a shape resembling that of a characteristic of the animal to which the target animal belongs. A software module is provided to reshape the virtual spatial model, using a finite set of independently configurable shape variables, to approximately fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the volume, mass or weight of the target animal is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual model. |
| US08351655B2 |
Method and system for automatically grading beef quality
A method of automatically grading beef quality by analyzing a digital image is provided. The method includes: an image acquiring step of acquiring a color image of beef using a CCD camera; a region separating step of separating a lean region from the acquired image; a boundary extracting step of extracting a boundary line of the lean region; a boundary smoothing step of smoothing the boundary line extracted in the boundary extracting step; a boundary correcting step of correcting an indented portion and a protruded portion included in the boundary line having been subjected to the boundary smoothing step; a grading region determining step of determining a grading region on the basis of the boundary line corrected in the boundary correcting step; and a grading step of grading the beef quality on the basis of the image of the grading region. |
| US08351653B2 |
Distance estimation from image motion for moving obstacle detection
Distance from a moving image capture device to one or more points is determined. An optical flow is calculated from a first image and a second image captured by the moving image capture device. The horizontal component of the optical flow is used to generate a horizontal distance map including horizontal distances and the vertical component of the optical flow is used to generate a vertical distance map including vertical distances. Horizontal weights are applied to the horizontal distance map to generate a modified horizontal distance map where horizontal distances proximate to a vertical line intersecting a focus of expansion are attenuated. Vertical weights are applied to the vertical distance map to generate a modified vertical distance map where vertical distances proximate to a horizontal line intersecting the focus of expansion are attenuated. The modified vertical distance map and the modified horizontal distance map are then summed. |
| US08351651B2 |
Hand-location post-process refinement in a tracking system
A tracking system having a depth camera tracks a user's body in a physical space and derives a model of the body, including an initial estimate of a hand position. Temporal smoothing is performed when the initial estimate moves by less than a threshold level from frame to frame, while little or no smoothing is performed when the movement is more than the threshold. The smoothed estimate is used to define a local volume for searching for a hand extremity to define a new hand position. Another process generates stabilized upper body points that can be used as reliable reference positions, such as by detecting and accounting for occlusions. The upper body points and a prior estimated hand position are used to define an arm vector. A search is made along the vector to detect a hand extremity to define a new hand position. |
| US08351649B1 |
Video feed target tracking
Technologies for object tracking can include accessing a video feed that captures an object in at least a portion of the video feed; operating a generative tracker to capture appearance variations of the object operating a discriminative tracker to discriminate the object from the object's background, where operating the discriminative tracker can include using a sliding window to process data from the video feed, and advancing the sliding window to focus the discriminative tracker on recent appearance variations of the object; training the generative tracker and the discriminative tracker based on the video feed, where the training can include updating the generative tracker based on an output of the discriminative tracker, and updating the discriminative tracker based on an output of the generative tracker; and tracking the object with information based on an output from the generative tracker and an output from the discriminative tracker. |
| US08351646B2 |
Human pose estimation and tracking using label assignment
A method and apparatus for estimating poses of a subject by grouping data points generated by a depth image into groups representing labeled parts of the subject, and then fitting a model representing the subject to the data points using the grouping of the data points. The grouping of the data points is performed by grouping the data points to segments based on proximity of the data points, and then using constraint conditions to assign the segments to the labeled parts. The model is fitted to the data points by using the grouping of the data points to the labeled parts. |
| US08351645B2 |
Methods and apparatus for embedding watermarks
Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to embed a watermark in a compressed data stream comprises obtaining a set of transform coefficients included in the compressed data stream, the set of transform coefficients having a respective first set of mantissa codes and a respective set of exponents, the first set of mantissa codes associated with a respective set of mantissa step sizes, identifying a first transform coefficient from the set of transform coefficients having a smallest magnitude among the set of transform coefficients, determining a second set of mantissa codes based on the first transform coefficient and the set of step sizes, and replacing the first set of mantissa codes included in the compressed data stream with the second set of mantissa codes to embed the watermark without uncompressing the compressed data stream. |
| US08351641B2 |
Portable sound box
A portable sound box includes a main body and a clip. The main body includes a battery for supplying power to the portable sound box. Thus, the portable sound box can supply power on its own. The clip is fixed to the main body and configured for clipping to an external object. Thus, the portable sound box can attached to the external object instead of standing on a surface. |
| US08351637B2 |
Frame earhook
An earhook (1), for example for a headset, to be worn around the root of the auricle (14) in the postauricular sulcus. The earhook (1) extends between a first end (5) and a second end (6) and has at least a first (2) and a second (3) curved element interconnected at the first end (5). Each curved element (2, 3) has a concave first side pointing forward towards the root of the auricle (14) and a convex second side pointing away from the root of the auricle (14) when worn. The curved elements (2, 3) are arranged with lateral distance (w) seen in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side of the head. |
| US08351634B2 |
Side-ported MEMS microphone assembly
A side-ported MEMS microphone package defines an acoustic path from a side of the package substrate to a microphone die disposed within a chamber defined by the substrate and a lid attached to the substrate. Optionally or alternatively, a circuit board, to which the microphone package is mounted, may define an acoustic path from an edge of the circuit board to a location under the microphone package, adjacent a bottom port on the microphone package. In either case, the acoustic path may be a hollow passage through at least a portion of the substrate or the circuit board. The passage may be defined by holes, channels, notches, etc. defined in each of several layers of a laminated substrate or circuit board, or the passage may be defined by holes drilled, molded or otherwise formed in a solid or laminated substrate or circuit board. |
| US08351633B2 |
Noise cancelling microphone with wind shield
Various exemplary embodiments are a noise-cancelling microphone housing including a body and a round wind shield member having a round depression in the end facing away from the body. The body is sized such that at least one microphone element will fit inside. The wind shield member is positioned such that in the course of normal use, wind directed toward the microphone will be intercepted and deflected by the wind-shield element. Deflecting wind away from the noise-cancelling microphone allows the microphone to produce a high-quality signal in spite of heavy winds. Various embodiments may also include a cover made of noise-damping material and/or holes through at least one face of the housing such that sound may pass through and reach the interior where the microphones are located. |
| US08351632B2 |
Noise mitigating microphone system and method
A microphone system has a base coupled with first and second microphone apparatuses. The first microphone apparatus is capable of producing a first output signal having a noise component, while the second microphone apparatus is capable of producing a second output signal. The first microphone apparatus may have a first back-side cavity and the second microphone may have a second back-side cavity. The first and second back-side cavities may be fluidly unconnected. The system also has combining logic operatively coupled with the first microphone apparatus and the second microphone apparatus. The combining logic uses the second output signal to remove at least a portion of the noise component from the first output signal. |
| US08351629B2 |
Waveguide electroacoustical transducing
A loudspeaker assembly, including an acoustic waveguide; an acoustic driver mounted in the waveguide so that a first surface radiates sound waves into the waveguide so that the sound waves are radiated from the waveguide; and an acoustic volume acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide for increasing the amplitude of the sound waves radiated from the acoustic waveguide. |
| US08351627B2 |
Hearing aid with an identifier
A hearing aid includes an identifier for identifying usage of the hearing aid at a correct side on the left ear or the right ear of a wearer. The identifier is constructed as a rotational element having a first feature and a second feature to be respectively set by a rotational movement. |
| US08351626B2 |
Audio amplification apparatus
A method of adjusting frequency-dependent amplification in an audio amplification apparatus. The audio amplification apparatus includes a forward transfer path (2) connectable to an output transducer, the forward transfer path including a frequency transposing element. The method includes the steps of: presenting stimuli to the output transducer at a plurality of frequencies; adjusting the stimulus level (C) at each frequency to meet a predefined loudness perception level or detection threshold of the listener; deriving an equal loudness contour of output transducer levels from the adjusted stimuli levels; and deriving the frequency-dependent amplification of levels of input signals (I) at each frequency. |
| US08351625B2 |
Acoustic sensor and microphone
Provided is an acoustic sensor capable of improving an S/N ratio of a sensor without preventing reduction in size of the sensor. A back chamber 45 is vertically opened in a silicon substrate 42. A thin film-like diaphragm 43 to serve as a movable electrode plate is formed on the top surface of the substrate 42 so as to cover the back chamber 45. The back plate 48 is fixed to the top surface of the substrate 42 so as to cover the diaphragm 43, and a fixed electrode plate 49 is provided on the under surface of the back plate 48. Further, the diaphragm 43 is divided into a plurality of areas by the slit 47, and the respective plurally divided diaphragms 43a, 43b and the fixed electrode plate 49 constitute a plurality of parallelly connected capacitors (acoustic sensing sections 60a, 60b). |
| US08351622B2 |
Audio mixing device
An audio mixing device that can get simpler processing done safely without depending on the property of an input signal is provided. An audio mixing device includes: an analyzer circuit to receive and separate audio data into primary and secondary audio data and control data; decoder circuits for decoding the primary and supplementary audio data separated into primary and supplementary audio signals in multiple channels; a mixer circuit for generating an M-channel composite audio signal by adding the supplementary audio signals to the primary ones channel-by-channel and converting the M-channel composite audio signal into N-channel audio signals (where N |
| US08351621B2 |
System and method for excursion limiting
A system for limiting the excursion of an audio speaker. The system may include first lowpass filter circuitry configured to receive a system input signal and to generate a first signal. The system may further include clipping circuitry configured between the first lowpass filter circuitry and the first combiner circuitry. The system may include first highpass filter circuitry configured to receive the system input signal and to generate a second signal. The system may include second lowpass filter circuitry configured to receive a combined output signal from the first combiner circuitry. The system may include allpass filter circuitry configured to receive the system input signal and to generate a fourth signal. The system may include second highpass filter circuitry configured to receive the fourth signal from the allpass filter circuitry. The second combiner circuitry may be configured to generate an excursion limiting output signal. |
| US08351619B2 |
Auditory sense correction device
There is provided an auditory sense correction device capable of adding favorable loudness characteristics to an output sound without depending on sound source characteristics of an audio signal even when a high-frequency band or a low-frequency band of the audio signal has already been subjected to loudness correction. The auditory sense correction device 1 includes: a loudness processing section 2 which applies loudness processing to audio signals on a frequency band basis, a gain calculation section 4 which calculates a level difference between a signal level of each frequency band and signal level of original frequency band; and gain setting section 5 which applies a correction gain of each frequency band to the audio signal of each frequency band that has been subjected to loudness processing. |
| US08351615B2 |
Impulse response processing device, reverberation applying device and program
In an impulse response processing device, a waveform dividing part divides a waveform of an original impulse response into a plurality of blocks on a time axis. A time adjusting part performs a time adjustment to reduce a time difference between successive ones of the blocks. A waveform synthesizing part generates a waveform of a new impulse response by adding the blocks on the time axis after the time adjustment by the time adjusting part. Further, a windowing part performs a windowing process to multiply each block by a window function having a window width corresponding to a width of the block, a function value of the window function decreasing from a center to both ends of the block. The waveform synthesizing part generates the new impulse response using the blocks after the windowing process by the windowing part. |
| US08351611B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a media signal
An apparatus for processing a media signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which the media signal can be converted to a surround signal by using spatial information of the media signal. The present invention provides a method of processing a signal, the method comprising of extracting a downmix signal from a bitstream; generating a decorrelated downmix signal by applying a decorrelator to the downmix signal; and generating a surround signal by applying rendering information for generating a surround signal to the downmix signal and the decorrelated downmix signal. |
| US08351610B2 |
Communication system and communication method
To improve a communication system including two communication apparatuses so as to reduce a possibility of having communication decrypted by a third party. The communication system includes a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, where one of the communication apparatuses encrypts transmission subject data and transmits generated encrypted data to the other communication apparatus which decrypts received encrypted data. Each of the communication apparatuses generates an algorithm used for encryption each time it performs the encryption or decryption. In this case, each of the communication apparatuses generates the algorithm by assigning past solutions to a solution generating algorithm capable of having the past solutions assigned thereto and thereby generating a new algorithm. The past solutions are erased when they are no longer used. |
| US08351603B2 |
Random number generating device, random number generating method, and security chip
A random number generating device includes: a random number generator configured to have a plurality of random number generating elements that generate a random number in response to supply of a spin-injection current; and a temperature controller. |
| US08351601B2 |
Elliptic polynomial cryptography with secret key embedding
Elliptic polynomial cryptography with secret key embedding is a method that allows for the encryption of messages through elliptic polynomial cryptography and, particularly, with the embedding of secret keys in the message bit string. The method of performing elliptic polynomial cryptography is based on the elliptic polynomial discrete logarithm problem. It is well known that an elliptic polynomial discrete logarithm problem is a computationally “difficult” or “hard” problem. |
| US08351595B2 |
Restoration of a caller to a previous place in an on-hold queue
A method for an automated call distribution system to re-associate a caller with a queue position previously established in an on-hold queue. The method includes receiving a first incoming call from a caller and assigning the caller to a position in an on-hold queue when the caller is placed on-hold by the automated call distribution system. A placeholder for the caller may then be assigned in the on-hold queue when the caller disconnects with the automated call distribution system. The placeholder corresponds to the position of the caller in the on-hold queue and is associated with a caller identifier. The method further includes receiving a second incoming call from the caller and associating the second incoming call with the caller identifier. It is then determined that the caller is associated with the placeholder. The caller is placed back into the on-hold queue at the position of the placeholder. |
| US08351593B2 |
Emergency recording during VoIP session
A method and apparatus are provided for recording a call between a client and an agent through an automatic contact distributor. The method includes the steps of the automatic contact distributor receiving a recording request from the agent, the automatic contact distributor activating a recording program, the recording program sniffing traffic within a packet telephone of the agent to detect packets exchanged between the agent and client and the recording program recording the detected packets between the agent and customer. |
| US08351592B2 |
Remote PBX system and advanced communication terminals
A method for providing a remote PBX service by a customer's phone service provider. More than one telephone number is assigned to one customer's telephone communication link. The one customer's telephone communication link is in communication with at least one telephone. A connect signal is received by the customer's phone service provider. The connect signal includes one of the telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link. A called telephone code is generated. The called telephone code is indicative of the one of the telephone numbers included in the connect signal. The called telephone code is sent to the customer's telephone communication link whereby a user of the customer's telephone communication link is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link was called prior to answering the at least one telephone connected to the customer's telephone communication link. Thus, the customer's phone service provider provides the remote PBX service for the customer without the necessity of a local PBX. |
| US08351591B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option. |
| US08351589B2 |
Spatial audio for audio conferencing
Spatialized audio is generated for voice data received at a telecommunications device based on spatial audio information received with the voice data and based on a determined virtual position of the source of the voice data for producing spatialized audio signals. |
| US08351588B2 |
Multi-way call connection management system
The present invention is directed to a multi-way connection management (MWCM) system for monitoring and maintaining call connections among a group of participating parties. The multi-way call connection may be established by connecting the originating party and the desired participating parties. Once a multi-way call connection is established, the multi-way call connection may be maintained until the originating party desires to terminate the call. Any disconnected party may rejoin the multi-way call by an automatic redial performed by the MWCM system. Additionally, the originating party may provide a call continuation period of the multi-way call when the originating party can rejoin the multi-way call. In this manner, other participating parties may stay in the multi-way call during the provided period without the originating party being connected. Advantageously, the originating party may save the time and effort of repeating a tedious process (by calling all other participating parties) to establish a multi-way call. |
| US08351587B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic notification of conference status
A telecommunications device including a notification set-up unit associated with a user device; an access control unit configured to receive notification configuration information from said notification set-up unit and provide notification to said user device of a pending conference in accordance with said notification configuration information. |
| US08351585B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for implementing multimedia ring back tone service
A method, system and apparatus for implementing a Multimedia Ring Back Tone (MRBT) service are provided. The method includes: receiving a call request originated by a calling terminal; parsing a tone playing policy specifying whether to play a caller tone or a callee tone or whether to filter a tone; performing caller tone media negotiation or callee tone media negotiation, or performing no tone negotiation according to the parsing result; and playing the caller tone or the callee tone to the caller, or playing no tone. With the technical solution of the present invention, the caller tone service can be implemented in the IMS domain. Whether a caller tone or a callee tone is played to the caller is determined according to a preset policy. Furthermore, the tone filtering service is also implemented. This gives a user freedom in experiencing the MRBT service. |
| US08351584B2 |
Least cost call routing
A device receives network information, least cost route (LCR) forecast information, network administrator inputs, and looping exceptions, and receives a call, from an originating location, to a terminating location. The device determines a LCR for the call based on the network information, the LCR forecast information, the network administrator inputs, and the looping exceptions. The device generates routing instructions for the determined LCR, and provides the routing instructions to one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR. The call is routed to the terminating location, via the one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR, and based on the routing instructions. |
| US08351583B2 |
Telecommunication system and method of synchronization
The telecommunication system for communication between PSTN and analog FAXes and/or analog phones by using separated passes for data and synchronization clock flow. |
| US08351582B2 |
Network for telephony and data communication
A service outlet for coupling a data unit to a wired digital data signal and for coupling a service unit to an analog service signal, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls of a building, the service wire pair concurrently carrying a wired bi-directional digital data signal and an analog service signal carried over a service signal frequency band, using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band. The outlet has a single enclosure and, within the enclosure: a wiring connector; first and second filters coupled to the wiring connector; a service connector coupled to the first filter and connectable to the service unit for coupling the service unit to the analog service signal; a service wiring modem coupled to the second filter; and a power supply coupled to the service wiring modem. |
| US08351581B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent call transcription
Intelligent call transcript systems and methods are disclosed. An intelligent call transcript system can create a transcript of a telephonic communication and supplement the transcript with additional information automatically or upon request. Additional information may be added when key words are detected, such as adding acronym expansion when an acronym is detected or adding identifying information to an important task when mention of the task is detected. Portions of the transcript may also be sent as messages, text-based or audio, upon detection of key words or at the instruction of a user or device. |
| US08351579B2 |
System and method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data in telecommunication networks using biometrics
A system and method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data in a telecommunication network using biometrics is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data using biometrics, one or more persons associated with a law enforcement agency (LEA) are authenticated by a telecommunication network provider. The authentication is performed upon receiving a request for lawful interception of data from the one or more persons associated with the LEA. Then, the lawful interception request associated with a registered telecommunication network user is activated to obtain the data. The data is intercepted user upon a successful match with a requested registered telecommunication network user by the LEA. Further, intercepted data along with the biometric information associated with the registered telecommunication network user is sent to the authenticated one or more persons associated with the LEA via the telecommunication network. |
| US08351577B2 |
Methods, systems and computer products for video calling and live help via IPTV
Systems, methods and computer products for querying for an interactive assistant for communication over a network via the set-top box. Communications are initiated between a subscriber and an interactive assistant. A diagnostic data log is uploaded from the set-top box to the interactive assistant. Based on the communications between the subscriber an interactive assistant and the diagnostic data log, diagnostic protocols are executed within the set-top box to generate a diagnostic report. The interactive assistant provides feedback analytics via the set-top box based on the communications between the subscriber and the interactive assistant, the diagnostic data log and the diagnostic report. Firmware solutions are downloaded to the set-top box based on results from the diagnostic report. |
| US08351576B2 |
X-ray tube with passive ion collecting electrode
An X-ray tube (1) comprising a cathode (3), an anode (5) and a further electrode (7) is proposed. Therein, the further electrode is arranged and adapted such that, due to impact of 'free electrons (27) coming from the anode (5), the further electrode (7) negatively charges to an electrical potential lying between a cathode's potential and an anode's potential. The further electrode (7) may be passive, i.e. substantially electrically isolated and not connected to an active external voltage supply. The further electrode (7) may act as an ion pump removing ions from within a primary electron beam (21) and furthermore also removing atoms of residual gas within the housing (11) of the X-ray tube (1). In order to further increase the ion pumping capability of the further electrode (7), a magnetic field generator (61) can be arranged adjacent to the further electrode (7). |
| US08351573B2 |
Device and method for positioning a target volume in a radiation therapy apparatus
A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position. |
| US08351570B2 |
Phase grating used to take X-ray phase contrast image, imaging system using the phase grating, and X-ray computer tomography system
To provide a phase grating capable of acquiring, in photographing of an X-ray phase contrast image by use of X-ray with two wavelengths, an X-ray phase contrast image by a phase grating in the same size as when a single wavelength is used, provided is a phase grating used when an X-ray is directed to take an X-ray phase contrast image, the phase grating including a periodic structure for generating a phase difference between an X-ray transmitted through the structure and an X-ray not transmitted through the structure. The periodic structure has different periods in a plurality of directions in a same surface. |
| US08351565B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
A CT value of an image within a region of interest is calculated with time. While the calculated CT value does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, a reconstruction mode used when an image is reconstructed from projection data is set to half reconstruction. On the other hand, while the calculated CT value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the reconstruction mode is set to segment reconstruction. |
| US08351563B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit includes plural shift register stages for providing plural gate signals. The Nth shift register stage of the shift register stages includes an input unit, a pull-up unit and a pull-down unit. The input unit is put in use for outputting an Nth driving control voltage according to an (N−1)th gate signal and an (N−2)th driving control voltage which are generated respectively by the (N−1) th shift register stage and the (N−2) th shift register stage of the shift register stages. The pull-up unit pulls up an Nth gate signal according to the Nth driving control voltage and a system clock. The pull-down unit pulls down the Nth gate signal and the Nth driving control voltage according to an (N+2)th gate signal generated by the (N+2)th shift register stage of the shift register stages. |
| US08351561B2 |
Advanced digital control rod position indication system with rod drop monitoring for nuclear power plants
An advanced digital rod position indication (ADRPI) system having rod drop monitoring capability. When a reactor trip occurs, the ADRPI system derives the rod drop time from the signals induced in the detector coils by the falling drive rods. The ADRPI system is linked to the reactor trip breaker to provide a reference point to allow accurate timing of the rod drop times. |
| US08351560B2 |
Phase interpolator based transmission clock control
A system and method is provided for phase interpolator based transmission clock control. The system includes a transmitter having a phase interpolator coupled to a master timing generator and a transmission module. The phase interpolator is also coupled to a receiver interpolator control module and/or an external interpolator control module. When the system is operating in repeat mode, the transmitter phase interpolator receives a control signal from a receiver interpolator control module. The transmitter phase interpolator uses the signal to synchronize the transmission clock to the sampling clock. When the system is operating in test mode, a user defines a transmission data profile in an external interpolator control module. The external interpolator control module generates a control signal based on the profile. The transmitter phase interpolator uses the signal to generate a transmission clock that is used by the transmission module to generate a data stream having the desired profile. |
| US08351556B2 |
Method and system for low complexity conjugate gradient based equalization in a wireless system
Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may include updating a plurality of filter taps utilizing at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector, for a plurality of received clusters, based on initialized values related to the at least one channel response vector and the at least one correlation vector. At least a portion of the received signal clusters may be filtered utilizing at least a portion of the updated plurality of filter taps. The update may be repeated whenever a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received signal clusters is reached. The initialized values may be updated during a plurality of iterations, and the update may be repeated whenever a specified number of the plurality of iterations is reached. |
| US08351554B2 |
Signal extraction
The invention relates to an adaptive method of extracting at least of desired electro magnetic wave signals, sound wave signals (40, 42), and any other signals from a mixture of signals (40, 42, 44, 46) and suppressing noise and interfering signals to produce enhanced signals (50) corresponding to desired (10) signals, and an apparatus (70) therefore. It relies on the concept of at least one of an attenuation of input signals in each sub-band for signals in such a manner that all desired (10) signals are attenuated less than noise or interfering source signals, and/or an amplification of input signals in each sub-band for source signals in such a manner that all desired (10) signals are amplified, and that they are amplified more than the noise and interfering signals. |
| US08351553B2 |
MIMO receiving apparatus and receiving method
In a MIMO receiving apparatus, the signals of single carriers transmitted from a plurality of transmission antennas are received by a plurality of reception antennas (1-1 through 1-N) and then separated according to frequency ranges. In this MIMO receiving apparatus, interference replicas of the antennas are eliminated from the received signals (by subtractor 54) before equalizing the two-dimensional frequency ranges, and non-distortion signal replicas are added (by a demodulating part 55) to the signals from which the interference replicas of the antennas have been eliminated after equalizing the two-dimensional frequency ranges. |
| US08351552B2 |
Decoding of forward error correction codes in the presence of phase noise and thermal noise
A communication receiver includes a front end, which is arranged to receive a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, which includes modulated symbols carrying data that have been encoded by a block Forward Error Correction (FEC) code. The front end converts the RF signal to a sequence of soft received symbols, wherein the soft received symbols are subject to distortion by at least first and second noise components having respective at least first and second statistical distributions. A metric calculation unit is arranged to process the soft received symbols so as to extract parameters indicative of the at least first and second statistical distributions, and to compute FEC metrics based on the extracted parameters. A FEC decoder is arranged to accept the FEC metrics as input, and to process the metrics in an iterative FEC decoding process so as to decode the FEC code and reconstruct the data. |
| US08351551B2 |
Opportunistic intermediate frequency selection for communication receivers
A method of selecting an intermediate frequency (fIF) is disclosed (FIG. 7). The method includes measuring a first signal quality (704) on a first channel at a first intermediate frequency. The method further includes measuring a second signal quality (706) on the first channel at a second intermediate frequency. The intermediate frequency with the best signal quality is selected (710). |
| US08351550B2 |
Correlation apparatus and method for frequency synchronization in broadband wireless access communication system
A correlation apparatus and method for frequency synchronization are provided. A frequency synchronization method of a receiver in a broadband wireless access communication system includes acquiring a highest correlation value by conducting a differential correlation of a variable interval between a received signal and a reference signal and performing a frequency synchronization according to the highest correlation value. |
| US08351542B2 |
Method and system for crest factor reduction
An apparatus and system are provided for crest factor reduction (CFR). Preferably, a peak from the wideband signal is detected. A gain from the magnitude of the peak and a threshold can then be calculated. Based on this information, each carrier's contribution to the peak can be approximated, and a cancellation pulse coefficient for each carrier from its contribution to the peak can be calculated. A base cancellation pulse can be calculated from the cancellation pulse coefficients for each carrier, and a cancellation pulse can be calculated from the base cancellation pulse and the gain, which can then be applied to the wideband signal. |
| US08351537B2 |
Seamless change of depth of a general convolutional interleaver during transmission without loss of data
Methods and communication systems are presented, in which impulse noise is monitored on a communication channel, and an interleaver depth is adjusted according to the monitored impulse noise without interrupting communication service. |
| US08351536B2 |
Wireless communication of data symbols
A transmitter generates a constellation pattern comprising replications of a first constellation. Each replication has a replication offset relative to a neighbouring replication and alternates between corresponding to the first constellation and an axis mirrored constellation (mirrored around the real and/or imaginary axis). The transmitter selects from the pattern such that a symbol for a data value corresponding to a first constellation point of the first constellation is selected from all replications of this constellation point. The constellation point resulting in the lowest transmit power for a combination of a plurality of antennas may be selected. A receiver receives the selected symbol and provides a folding operation to compensate for replications and mirroring. The replication offset may be lower than the minimum distance between symbols in the first constellation thereby resulting in an improved trade off between transmit power and error probability, e.g. in a Multiple Input Multiple Output system. |
| US08351535B2 |
Method of feedback information transmission, method and apparatus of data transmission in a wireless communication system having multiple antennas
A method of data transmission from a transmitter of a wireless communication system which uses multiple antennas comprises receiving identification information of a precoding matrix from a receiver, the precoding matrix being selected from a codebook generated using a plurality of first matrices generated by multiplying a discrete fourier transform (DFT) matrix by each of a plurality of phase shift matrices; precoding data to be transmitted, by using a precoding matrix indicated by the identification information; and transmitting the precoded data to the receiver by using the multiple antennas. |
| US08351533B2 |
Group resource allocation techniques for IEEE 802.16m
Group resource allocation techniques for IEEE 802.16m are generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising generating a plurality of bitmaps to identify resource allocations and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) modes for a group of broadband wireless mobile stations, wherein each mobile station in the group is assigned a position within a user bitmap to identify whether the mobile station is allocated frame resources and wherein the position within one or more MIMO bitmap(s) to identify a MIMO mode, and transmitting the bitmaps in a group resource allocation (GRA) information element (IE) of a broadband wireless media access protocol (MAP) frame portion. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08351532B2 |
Iterative interference cancellation
An exemplary method of communicating includes determining a first user channel estimate from a communication comprising first and second user reference sequences. The first user reference sequence is reconstructed using the determined first user channel estimate. The communication is revised based upon the reconstructed first user reference sequence. Then determining a second user channel estimate is based on the revised communication. |
| US08351530B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control signaling for MIMO transmission
A method and apparatus for processing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives downlink control information including WTRU-specific MIMO and transport format information and MIMO information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same resource. The WTRU processes received MIMO data based on the downlink control information. The downlink control information may also include transport format information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same RB. The downlink control information may be transmitted via WTRU-specific control signaling. All WTRUs' MIMO and/or transport format information may be transmitted via resource-specific common control signaling. The downlink control signaling format may include at least one of a number of streams for the WTRU, a number of active WTRUs assigned to the same resource, a spatial channel identity for the WTRU, a MIMO mode, a precoding matrix index and a precoding vector index. |
| US08351527B2 |
Communication methods for CCFI/PCFICH in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a control channel format indicator (CCFI), also known as PCFICH (Physical Control Format Indicator Channel), in case where the length of a coded CCFI is not an integer multiple of three, including mapping a plurality of two-bit CCFI into a codebook with each component codeword having three bits; generating a sequence of codewords selected from the codebook by repeating the selected component codeword for predetermined times; generating a codeword by concatenating the sequence of the selected component codewords with the original CCFI bits; and transmitting the codeword carrying information of CCFI. The method further includes a step of generating a permutation of each of the four codewords by assigning K repetitions of the three-bit component codeword to the number of K resource units respectively and mapping remaining K bits of each of the four codewords separately to the number of K resource units. |
| US08351517B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, a communication unit is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive signals via at least one of a first physical link and a second physical link. A power consumption for wireless transmission and reception of the signals via the first physical link is lower than that a power consumption for wireless transmission and reception of the signals via the second physical link. A first link control module establishes the first physical link between the communication unit and an external device. A remote control module transmits to the external device a playback request signal via the first physical link. A second link control module establishes the second physical link between the communication unit and the external device, after the playback request signal is transmitted. A data transfer module transfers the digital content data between the communication unit and the external device via the second physical link. |
| US08351516B2 |
Data transmitter and data receiver
As shown in FIG. 7, a data receiver receives video data and audio data together with a frequency division parameter N that depends on the pixel clock of the video data and the sampling frequency of the audio data, and a count value CTS that is obtained by counting the period of the audio clock that has been subjected to frequency division by the frequency division parameter N, with the pixel clock, which are transmitted from a data transmitter, and subjects the pixel clock to frequency division by the count value CTS, phase-control the divided clock (s501) in accordance with a phase comparison clock (s505) that is obtained by dividing an audio clock (s403) oscillated from a VCO (504) by the frequency division parameter N, thereby generating an audio clock (s403).Accordingly, the data transmitter and the data receiver can satisfactorily implement multiplexing of audio data and video data, and transmission of the multiplexed data using an existing DVI cable, with a simple structure. |
| US08351514B2 |
Method, protocol, and apparatus for transporting advanced video coding content
A method, protocol and apparatus for transporting Advanced Video Coding (AVC) content, e.g., using MPEG-2 systems is disclosed. Specifically, the present method is related to the carriage of various flavors of AVC streams in a uniform fashion over MPEG-2 systems (e.g., both transport and program streams). The method includes generating the AVC content from an input stream, and thereafter transporting the AVC content in a transport stream or a program stream over MPEG-2. The AVC content is generated in accordance with at least one constraint that is associated with the transport stream or the program stream. |
| US08351506B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive block based on a motion vector of a co-located block in a reference picture
In one embodiment the method includes selecting a list 0 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture as the motion vector if the co-located block has the list 0 motion vector and a list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after the current picture. The method further includes selecting the list 1 motion vector of the co-located block in the first reference picture if the co-located block only has the list 1 motion vector, scaling the selected motion vector based on temporal distance between the current picture and the first reference picture, and deriving at least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block by applying a bit operation to the scaled motion vector. |
| US08351505B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive block based on a motion vector of a co-located block in a reference picture
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 1 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture if the co-located block only has the list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after the current picture, and the selected list 1 motion vector points to a second reference picture, which is a reference picture of the first reference picture. The method further includes deriving the list 0 and list 1 motion vectors of the bi-predictive block based on the selected list 1 motion vector of the co-located block. This deriving includes deriving a first temporal distance from a difference between the current picture and the first reference picture, deriving a second temporal distance from a difference between the first reference picture and the second reference picture, and scaling the selected list 1 motion vector of the co-located block based on the first and second temporal distances. |
| US08351504B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive image block by applying a bit operation
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list0 motion vector of a co-located image block in a reference picture for the bi-predictive image block as a motion vector for deriving motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block regardless of whether the co-located block includes a list1 motion vector. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector. |
| US08351497B2 |
Digital television transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing broadcast data
A DTV transmitting system includes a frame encoder, a randomizer, a block processor, a group formatter, a deinterleaver, and a packet formatter. The frame encoder builds an enhanced data frame and adds parity data into the data frame. The frame encoder further divides the data frame into first and second sub-frames including first and second portions of the parity data, respectively, and permutes a plurality of the first sub-frames and a plurality of the second sub-frames, respectively. The randomizer randomizes enhanced data in the permuted sub-frames, and the block processor codes the randomized data at a rate of 1/N1. The group formatter forms a group of enhanced data having one or more data regions and inserts the 1/N1 coded data into at least one of the data regions. The deinterleaver deinterleaves the group of enhanced data, and the packet formatter formats the deinterleaved data into enhanced data packets. |
| US08351490B2 |
Radio frequency identification transceiver
A radio frequency identification transceiver is disclosed. The radio frequency identification transceiver includes: a transmitter path, including; a pulse shaper to tunably shape the pulse of a signal to be transmitted in different predefined frequency ranges; a modulator to modulate the shaped pulse to be transmitted into one of a plurality of predefined frequency ranges; a receiver path, including: a demodulator to demodulate a received signal from a plurality of predefined frequency ranges. |
| US08351484B2 |
Communications system employing chaotic spreading codes with static offsets
Methods for code-division multiplex communications. The method involve generating orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading codes (CSC1, . . . , CSCK) having different static offsets using a set of polynomial equations (f0(x(nT)), . . . , fN-1(x(nT)) and/or f0[x((n+v)T+t)], . . . , fN-1[x((n+v)T+t)]). The methods also involve forming spread spectrum communications signals respectively using the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading codes. The methods further involve concurrently transmitting the spread spectrum communications signals over a common RF frequency band. The spreading codes are generated using different initial values for a variable “x” of a polynomial equation f(x(nT)) and/or different acc-dec values for a variable “v” of a polynomial equation f[x((n+v)T+t)]. The static offsets are defined by the different initial values for a variable “x” and/or different acc-dec values for a variable “v”. |
| US08351481B2 |
Methods and apparatus for single-mode selection in quantum cascade lasers
Methods and apparatus for improved single-mode selection in a quantum cascade laser. In one example, a distributed feedback grating incorporates both index-coupling and loss-coupling components. The loss-coupling component facilitates selection of one mode from two possible emission modes by periodically incorporating a thin layer of “lossy” semiconductor material on top of the active region to introduce a sufficiently large loss difference between the two modes. The lossy layer is doped to a level sufficient to induce considerable free-carrier absorption losses for one of the two modes while allowing sufficient gain for the other of the two modes. In alternative implementations, the highly-doped layer may be replaced by other low-dimensional structures such as quantum wells, quantum wires, and quantum dots with significant engineered intraband absorption to selectively increase the free-carrier absorption losses for one of multiple possible modes so as to facilitate single-mode operation. |
| US08351480B2 |
Digital pulse-width-modulation control of a radio frequency power supply for pulsed laser
A pulse width modulation method for controlling the output power of a pulsed gas discharge laser powered by a pulsed RF power supply comprises delivering a train of digital pulses to the RF power supply. Each pulse in the train has an incrementally variable duration. The power supply is arranged to deliver a train of RF pulses corresponding in number and duration to the train of digital pulses received. The average power in the RF-pulse train can be varied by incrementally varying the duration of one or more of the digital pulses in the digital pulse train. The train of RF pulses is used to power a gas discharge laser. The gas discharge laser outputs a pulse train corresponding to the RF pulse train. |
| US08351478B2 |
Growth structures and method for forming laser diodes on {30-31} or off cut gallium and nitrogen containing substrates
An optical device having a structured active region configured for one or more selected wavelengths of light emissions and formed on an off-cut m-plane gallium and nitrogen containing substrate. |
| US08351476B1 |
Quasi-remote laser pulse compression and generation of radiation and particle beams
A system and methods for the quasi-remote compression and focusing of a moderate-intensity laser pulse to form a much higher intensity beam that can be directed at a target and used as a probe beam or used in a probe beam converter to generate other forms of electromagnetic radiation or energetic particles. A system for the quasi-remote propagation of high-intensity laser beams in accordance with the present invention comprises a main platform on which a first, “seed” laser pulse is generated, stretched, and amplified, and a remote platform, located at a distance from the main platform, which is configured to receive the amplified and stretched pulse and convert it into the high-intensity laser beam. The high-intensity laser beam in turn can then be converted into one or more probe beams directed at a target object. |
| US08351474B2 |
Compact multimode laser with rapid wavelength scanning
In accordance with the present invention, a compact laser system with nearly continuous wavelength scanning is presented. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned over a broad range. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned at high scan rates. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can have a variable coherence length. In particular, embodiments with wavelength scanning over 140 nm with continuously variable scan rates of up to about 1 nm/μs, and discrete increase in scan rates up to about 10 nm/μs, and variable coherence lengths of from 1 mm to about 30 mm can be achieved. |
| US08351472B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element and tunable wavelength laser light source
The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting element that can obtain oscillation at desired wavelengths. The semiconductor light emitting element comprises a semiconductor substrate 11, an active layer 12 for emitting and propagating light, which is formed in a stripe shape above the semiconductor substrate 11, buried layers 13a, 13b formed on both lateral sides of the active layer 12, a cladding layer 16 formed above the active layer 12 and the buried layers 13a, 13b, a first electrode 17a formed above the cladding layer 16, and a second electrode 17b formed below the semiconductor substrate 11. The active layer 12 opens on one end facet 14a among the two end facets formed by cleavage so that the active layer 12 makes a predetermined angle to the normal direction of the one end facet 14a. A partially heating means 15 for heating a predetermined length portion of the active layer 12 along the direction of light propagation is formed on a first electrode at a position thermally isolated from the one end facet 14a. |
| US08351471B2 |
Satellite communications system having transmitting station diversity
The invention relates to a method for transmitting signals termed useful signals via a satellite by means of connection stations. To this end, a first connection station (CNX1) carries out the generation of a first service signal on a service carrier frequency dubbed the pilot signal (Fp), and the transmission of this pilot signal to at least one second connection station (CNX2). The use of this pilot signal ensures phase synchronization and temporal synchronization of the signals so as to implement a transmit diversity, that is to say to toggle the transmission of the useful signal by this second connection station without loss of phase synchronization between the two stations. The invention applies to the Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) signal communications by satellites. |
| US08351470B2 |
Signal receiver, control method of signal receiver, and GPS device utilizing the signal receiver and method
A signal receiver including an input that receives a plurality of signals from a respective plurality of channels; a multiplexer unit that receives the plurality of signals from the input and that selects, in a time-division manner, one of the plurality of signals; and at least one phase difference detector that receives the selected signal from the multiplexer unit, a number of the at least one phase difference detectors being less than a number of the plurality of channels. |
| US08351469B2 |
Radio communication method and a base station and user terminal thereof
In a radio communication system, each of user terminals together with transmitting a data signal to a base station using different data transmission band frequencies that are assigned by a base station, performs time-division multiplexing of a pilot signal with the data signal and transmit the resulting signal to the base station. A resource management unit of the base station decides pilot transmission bands for each user terminal so that the pilot transmission band covers the data transmission band for each user terminal by frequency offset, and instructs the user terminal to transmit pilot signals using the decided pilot transmission band frequencies. Thereby the base station can estimate channel for each frequency of the data transmission band using the pilot signal. |
| US08351468B2 |
Method and apparatus for downloading content using channel bonding
As additional channels are added to a communication system for applications, such as standard density (SD) and eventually high density (HD) Video on Demand (VOD), additional capacity can be realized by reducing the time required to transmit content. A reduction of transmission time (or an increase of the transmission rate) can be achieved by bonding channels of the communication system. The bonded channels typically provide a statistical multiplexing gain because the additional bandwidth is treated as a large single channel for the download. Bonding channels of the communication system can provide high speed downloading of content, such as video content, far in excess of the playback rate. Using bonded channels can relax the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of a data stream, such as a video stream, over an internet protocol (IP) network. |
| US08351464B2 |
Retransmission in data communication systems
In one implementation, a transmission apparatus includes a protocol stack for a DSL transmission system, the protocol stack includes a retransmission functionality, the retransmission functionality being provided between a sublayer of a TPS-TC layer and a data link layer, the retransmission functionality having a fragment of a packet or a group of fragments of a packet as basic retransmission unit. The protocol stack may implement a service specific retransmission functionality such that for a first class of services retransmission protection is provided and for a second class of services no retransmission protection is implemented. |
| US08351462B2 |
Service switching method, system, and device
A service switching method, system, and device are provided. The method includes: receiving a control message for switching between a unicast service and a multicast service; and reusing access line resources of the multicast service when the multicast service is switched to the unicast service, or reusing access line resources of the unicast service when the unicast service is switched to the multicast service according to the control message. |
| US08351460B2 |
Digital video recorder and control method therefor
Disclosed herein is a control method for a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). In the method, a protocol script map table, including command packet information and management information for parsing the command packet information, is newly defined. Whenever a camera using a new protocol is added to the DVR system, a script table for the new protocol is prepared based on the newly defined table, and is copied to a predetermined area of system memory via a data port, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, and a running main application creates a command packet for controlling the newly connected camera with reference to the prepared script table. Thus, a surveillance camera can be added to a digital video recording system without interrupting a surveillance function. |
| US08351458B2 |
Method for allocating radio resources, radio base station, and mobile station
A method for allocating uplink radio resources to a radio communication device includes transmitting a polling signal; allocating radio resources for data transmission based on a response signal to the polling signal; suspending transmission of the polling signal when it is determined that a condition to omit the transmission of the polling signal is satisfied; and allocating radio resources for data transmission while the transmission of the polling signal is suspended. |
| US08351457B2 |
Method and system for providing a priority-based, low-collision distributed coordination function using a super-frame structure
A method for providing a priority-based, low-collision distributed coordination function (DCF) in a wireless network is provided. The network includes an access point and a plurality of stations. The method includes receiving at a first station a super-frame from the access point. The super-frame is operable to define a service period for each of the stations. A priority for the first station is determined based on the super-frame. A back-off time is selected for the first station based on the priority. |
| US08351455B2 |
System and method for multi-stage zero forcing beamforming in a wireless communications system
A system and method for multi-stage zero forcing beamforming in a wireless communications system is provided. A method includes receiving feedback information from each mobile station (MS) in a first plurality of mobile stations (MSs), selecting a first MS from the first plurality of MSs, and broadcasting information related to the first MS to the first plurality of MSs. The first MS having a largest value of a first metric based on the feedback information received from the first plurality of MSs. The method also includes receiving feedback information from each MS in a second plurality of MSs, selecting a second MS from the second plurality of MSs, and creating a precoding matrix from feedback information from the first MS and the second MS. The second MS having a largest value of a second metric based on the feedback information received from the second plurality of MSs. |
| US08351454B2 |
Security system and method for wireless communication within a vehicle
A method for providing wireless communications between nodes of a vehicle includes providing a plurality of frequency channels on which the nodes of a first vehicle may wirelessly communicate. Wireless communication with a second vehicle adjacent to the first vehicle includes assigning a first of the frequency channels to the first vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the first vehicle, and a second of the frequency channels to the second vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the second vehicle. The first vehicle is prohibited from using the second frequency channel and the second vehicle is prohibited from using the first frequency channel. |
| US08351450B2 |
Information transparent adaptation function for packet based network connections
In one embodiment, a rate adaptation device comprises one or more input/output (I/O) ports coupled to a first network operating at a first data transmission rate, a first physical coding sublayer (PCS) receiver to receive a stream of PCS blocks from the first network, an idle symbol remover to remove a sequence of idle symbols from the first PCS block and combine the one or more non-idle PCS symbols in a buffer with one or more non-idle PCS symbols from a second PCS block to form a third PCS block, and a PCS transmitter to transmit the third PCS block to a second network operating at a second data transmission rate. |
| US08351445B1 |
Network interface systems and methods for offloading segmentation and/or checksumming with security processing
Network interface systems are disclosed comprising a bus interface system, a media access control system, a memory system, a security system for selectively encrypting outgoing data and decrypting incoming data, a checksum system for generating and verifying checksum values, and a segmentation system for selectively segmenting outgoing data, where the network interface system may be fabricated as a single integrated circuit chip. Methods are also provided for interfacing a host system with a network, in which checksum information is obtained from the host system, which is used to generate checksum values for outgoing data while the data is being stored in a network interface memory system. |
| US08351444B2 |
Communication environment switchover
Communication environment switchover may be provided. A received signal strength level may be determined corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device. The received signal strength level may be measured at the second device. In addition, the first device may be re-provisioned. For example, the first device may be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in a first environment and if the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value. Furthermore, the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in the second environment and if the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value. The second threshold value may be less than the first threshold value. |
| US08351441B2 |
Personalized multimedia services using a mobile service platform
A method for providing multimedia data from at least one controllable multimedia source to a mobile device includes providing a request path from the mobile device to a mobile service platform, receiving a request from the mobile device, obtaining a device profile from the mobile device, authenticating the identity of a user of the mobile device, and determining a user profile in response to the user identity. The method further includes authorizing control and access to the at least one multimedia source, providing a control channel from the mobile service platform to at least one multimedia server, providing multimedia data delivery information to the at least one multimedia server, and providing multimedia data to the mobile device in response to the request via the at least one multimedia server. |
| US08351439B2 |
Techniques for measuring media statistics on forked media using a DSP
Techniques for determining media statistics for a communication from a first device to a second device are provided. The techniques include receiving media traffic for the communication at a network device configured to receive the media traffic from the first device. The network device is also configured to transmit the media traffic to the second device. A copy of the received media traffic is also forked to a processor. The received media traffic is sent to the second device while the forked copy of the media traffic is analyzed at the processor to generate media statistics about the media traffic. |
| US08351436B2 |
Apparatus and method for efficient bandwidth allocation on time division multiple access-based passive optical network (TDMA-PON)
Provided are an apparatus and method for efficiently and dynamically allocating a bandwidth on a Time Division Multiple Access-based Passive Optical Network (TDMA PON). The dynamic bandwidth allocation apparatus for uplink data transmission of a plurality of Optical Network Units (ONUs) including a plurality of class queues corresponding to Transmission Container (T-CONT) types, the plurality of ONUs connected to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) on a Passive Optical Network (PON), includes: a class queue information storage unit storing information regarding a bandwidth allocation period and an allocatable bandwidth amount for each T-CONT type; an allocation check table unit checking the bandwidth allocation period for the T-CONT type received from the class queue information storage unit, and determining an allocatable bandwidth amount for the T-CONT type; and a bandwidth allocation unit allocating an uplink bandwidth to the T-CONT type with reference to the bandwidth allocation period and the allocatable bandwidth amount for the T-CONT type, and re-allocating to each ONU an uplink bandwidth remaining after allocating a total uplink bandwidths to all T-CONT types. |
| US08351431B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing fast reroute of a multicast packet within a network element to an available port associated with a multi-link trunk
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a fast re-route of a multicast packet within a network element to an available port associated with a multi-link trunk is presented. A packet is received by a Forwarding Data Unit (FDU) in a data plane of a network element and a determination made that the packet is a multicast packet. The packet is forwarded to all egress FDUs having at least one port associated with at least one receiver of the multicast packet. A lookup is performed by each egress FDU in a synchronized local port state database to find a port for each receiver that is in an UP state. The packet is forwarded out the port to a receiver when the port is in the UP state and dropped when the port is in the DOWN state. |
| US08351426B2 |
Ethernet virtualization using assisted frame correction
A method for Ethernet virtualization using assisted frame correction. The method comprises receiving at a host adapter data packets from a network, storing the received data packets in host memory, storing the received data packets in a hardware queue located on the host adapter, setting a status indicator reflecting the status of the data packets based on results of the checking, and sending the status indicator to the host memory. |
| US08351425B2 |
Communication relay system, server, and method for same
The present invention relates to the formation by a communication relay server of a communication pathway between a terminal and a service provider server. It relates to a communication relay system, server and method for same, wherein, when a terminal accesses a service provider server, the communication relay server uses virtual information such as path ID, etc., to form a communication pathway so that terminal identification information such as telephone number, etc., may not be directly exposed, and the communication pathway that is formed between the terminal and the service provider server may also be changed to a communication pathway that is formed between another terminal and the service provider server. |
| US08351421B2 |
System and method for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and facsimile over internet protocol (FoIP) calling over the internet
A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out. The system can also use information about calls that has been recorded in more than one location to determine how much to charge for completing a call. |
| US08351420B2 |
Maintenance of subscriber history for service support applications in an IP-based telecommunications system
A facility for maintaining a subscriber history pertaining to the use of a mobile device with an IP-based telecommunications service offered by a service provider. When a connection request is made by a mobile device to access an IP-based telecommunications service, one or more identifiers associated with the requesting mobile device and access point are provided in the request and stored by the facility. In some cases, the identifiers are stored even if the mobile device is unable to, or not authorized to, access the telecommunications service. Additional parameters associated with the request from the mobile device, such as a time stamp and details of a subsequent telecommunications session, are also associated with the stored request. The history of requests to access the IP-based telecommunications service from the mobile device are maintained by the facility and provided to a service support provider. |
| US08351418B2 |
System and method for point to multipoint inter-domain multiprotocol label switching traffic engineering path calculation
A system comprising a plurality of path computation elements (PCEs) configured to communicate with an ingress node, jointly compute a core tree for an inter-domain point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tree across a plurality of network domains, and independently compute a plurality of sub-trees in at least some of the network domains, wherein the core tree connects the ingress node to a boundary node (BN) in each one of the network domains that have a destination node and each sub-tree connects the BN to a plurality of destination nodes in one of the network domains that have a destination node. |
| US08351417B2 |
Methods for efficient organization of vehicle peer groups and efficient V2R communications
The present invention provides methods for efficient control message distribution in a VANET. Efficient flooding mechanisms are provided to fulfill the objective of flooding (delivering a message to every connected node) with a limited number of re-broadcasting by selected key nodes. A suppression-based efficient flooding mechanism utilizes a Light Suppression (LS) technique to reduce the number of flooding relays by giving up the broadcasting of a flooding message when a node observes downstream relay of the same flooding message. Additionally, a relay-node based efficient flooding mechanism selects Relay Nodes (RN) to form an efficient flooding tree for control message delivery. RNs are nodes that relay at least one control message, for instance a Membership Report (MR) to the upstream node in “k” previous control message cycles The upstream node may be the group header (GH) for the LPG. |
| US08351414B2 |
Allocating subcarrier channels based on a terminal's bandwidth capacity
Wireless communication with a communicating apparatus that is a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies. A frequency channel allocating section allocates frequency channels, a terminal reception quality information processing section calculates an optimal modulation rate and required transmit power for each subcarrier, a subcarrier power control section controls a level of transmit power for each subcarrier, and a determining section checks a reception bandwidth of a communicating apparatus, while determining whether the communicating apparatus is a full band terminal capable of receiving all the frequency channels in the system band or a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies. When the communicating apparatus is the limited band terminal, the transmit power of all or part of subcarriers is decreased in a frequency channel that is adjacent to a reception band allocated to the communicating apparatus and that is allocated to another communicating apparatus. |
| US08351413B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating ranging signal in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of generating a ranging signal in a wireless communication system is provided. A mobile station (MS) generates a ranging code in which a covering code has been applied to each of a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbols, and maps the ranging code to a plurality of subcarriers constituting each of the OFDMA symbols. The ranging signal is generated by performing OFDMA modulation on each of the OFDMA symbols. |
| US08351412B2 |
Method and apparatus for blind transport format detection using discontinuous transmission (DTX) detection
Methods and apparatus are provided for blind transport format detection using Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) detection. According to one aspect of the invention, the transport format that was used to transmit information is determined by identifying a transition between a Discontinuous Transmission segment and a data segment included in the transmitted information; and determining the transport format based on a location of the transition of the Discontinuous Transmission segment. A cyclic redundancy check can optionally be performed for a plurality of possible transport formats, and then the step of identifying a transition can be limited to those transport formats having a valid cyclic redundancy check. |
| US08351411B2 |
System for channel sounding of broadband signal carrier mobile communications and method thereof
Provided are a system for channel sounding of broadband single carrier mobile communications and a method thereof. A channel sounding device is provided, which achieves precise modeling of a broadband mobile communication in a 5 GHz band. The channel sounding device can perform precise channel modeling by collecting broadband channel data of 20 MHz between a base station and a mobile station moving at maximum 150 km/h, using a sounding signal including a 802.15.3 preamble, a maximum length sequence (MLS) signal, and a single carrier frequency domain equalization (SC-FDE) symbol overcoming a limitation of signal distortion of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. The channel sounding device can simultaneously perform modeling of interference of an adjacent channel as well as a transmission channel. |
| US08351410B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving broadcasting service information in a digital broadcasting system
Provided are an apparatus and a method for receiving PSI/SI in a DVB-H receiver, in which packets carrying PSI/SI are detected from TS packets received over a wireless network and counted, and the PSI/SI packets are read if the packet count number reaches a predetermined packet number. |
| US08351406B2 |
Techniques for dynamic resource allocation
Techniques are disclosed that dynamically allocate communications resources in a wireless communications network, such as a wireless personal area network (WPAN). For instance, a wireless communications device may obtain a resource allocation. This resource allocation includes a time slot (e.g., a TDMA time slot) within a wireless communications medium. The device determines a first portion of the time slot in which it intends to transmit data. Also, the wireless communications device relinquishes a second portion of the time slot that occurs after the first portion of the time slot. Based on this relinquishment, a central controller device may reallocate the second portion of the time slot. |
| US08351405B2 |
Method and apparatus for signaling beacons in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for improved beacon signaling in a wireless communication system are described. Information is encoded in the tone position of the beacon tone. The information encoded may include sector type, sector index and slope index, as well as some time index. The information is coded in the tone position so that any few of several beacons can be decoded in order to decode the information. The methods and apparatus described in the invention improve the robustness against frequency selective fading and do not require wireless terminals to establish synchronization for reliable base station detection. |
| US08351401B2 |
Code sequence transmission method, wireless communication system, transmitter, and receiver
A code sequence transmission method capable of improving system throughput and user throughput by improving power utilization efficiencies of a control channel and a data channel including a plurality of signals having different required qualities is provided. In a mobile station, a bit sequence of a TFCI is transmitted within one frame a plurality of times repeatedly, the bit sequence of each TFCI is multiplied by one bit of a bit sequence of an SI, a multiplication result is transmitted. It is thereby possible to transmit both the TFCI and the SI without providing a signal field of the SI in each frame. |
| US08351400B2 |
Method and apparatus for overhead reduction in an enhanced uplink in a wireless communication system
Systems and methods are provided in a synchronous wireless communication system 100 which enable data to be transmitted between wireless mobile user equipment 110 and base stations 120 without identifying information embedded in the packets 401, thus reducing the transmission overhead. Packets are reordered at base stations 120 based upon a prearranged transmission scheme in which a retransmission for a failed packet is expected in the corresponding HARQ instance of the next group. |
| US08351399B2 |
MIMO wireless communication greenfield preamble formats
A method for multiple input multiple output wireless communication begins by determining protocols of wireless communication devices within a proximal region. The method continues by determining whether the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of a like protocol. The method continues by determining the number of transmit antennas. The method continues, when the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of the like protocol, formatting a preamble of a frame of the wireless communication utilizing at least one of cyclic shifting of symbols, cyclic shifting of tones, sparse tone allocation, and sparse symbol allocation based on the number of transmit antennas. |
| US08351397B2 |
Method and system for detecting enhanced relative grants in a wireless communications system
Aspects of a method and system for detecting enhanced relative grants in a wireless communications system may include determining one or more signed signal power levels, wherein the one or more signed signal power levels may be positive E-RGCH signal levels or negative E-HICH signal levels. A probability density function may be estimated from the determined one or more signed signal power levels, and a decision threshold based on the estimated probability density function may be set. The probability density function may be estimated based on symmetry of the probability density function. The decision threshold may be set to achieve a desired probability of false positive detections. The decision threshold may be used to distinguish a received HOLD signal from a received DOWN signal for an E-RGCH channel, or to distinguish a received DTX signal from a received ACK signal for an E-HICH channel. |
| US08351394B2 |
Adaptive communication system, communication terminal, communication method and access point
The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an adaptive communication system, communication method, communication terminal and Access Point (AP). The system includes: an application mode information obtaining module, configured to obtain information about the application mode supported by the network; and an AP, configured to: provide a communication terminal with application mode information obtained by the application mode information obtaining module, wherein the application mode information indicates the application mode supported by the network; and create a communication connection with the communication terminal based on the application mode negotiated and determined according to the information about the application mode supported by the communication terminal and the information about the application mode supported by the network. The embodiments of the present disclosure may make the most of the access resources, improve the success ratio of access, and reduce unnecessary delay and power consumption. |
| US08351393B2 |
Switching of multimedia sessions from a mobile terminal
A method of switching a multimedia session from a mobile terminal (2) connected to a mobile communications network (21) to an indoor device (11; 12; 13; 14) connected to an indoor local area network (150) including an indoor gateway (15), the mobile terminal (2) and the indoor gateway (15) being connected to an application system (20) that sets up multimedia sessions. The method includes setting up a first multimedia session between the mobile terminal (2) and the application system (20) via the mobile communications network (21). The mobile terminal (2) detects the proximity of the indoor local area network (150). Indoor devices (11-14) are selected that are capable of supporting the first multimedia session in progress on the mobile terminal (2). The mobile terminal (2) validates an indoor device from the selected devices. A second multimedia session is set up between the validated indoor device and the application system (20), and the first multimedia session is closed. |
| US08351392B2 |
Method for acquiring resource region information for PHICH and method of receiving PDCCH
A method of acquiring information on a resource region for transmitting PHICH and a method of receiving PDCCH using the same are disclosed. The resource region for transmitting the PHICH can be specified by first information corresponding to the per-subframe PHICH number and second information corresponding to a duration of the PHICH within the subframe. The first information can be specified into a form resulting from multiplying a predetermined basic number by a specific constant. And, the specific constant can be transmitted via PBCH. Moreover, the second information can be acquired from the PBCH as well. |
| US08351391B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting frequency layer for connected mode UE in an MBMS mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for selecting the PL of an interested MBMS service for a UE in an MBMS mobile communication system are provided. A connected mode UE receives FLC applicability information for an interested MBMS service and keeps a current frequency or reselects to the PL of the MBMS service according to the FLC applicability information. Even if the FLC applicability information restricts FLC from the connected mode UE, the connected mode UE can reselect to the PL of the MBMS service according to its priority level. |
| US08351389B2 |
Communication system, method, and communication apparatus
A base station in a communication system where mobile stations receive paging announce using a discontinuously received reception frame and the mobile stations receive multicast data as well as the paging announce, in which the mobile stations in idle mode are searched for from among the mobile stations receiving multicast data, the mobile stations located where a paging group to which the searched-for mobile stations belong overlaps an area where the multicast data are distributed are selected from among the searched-for mobile stations, and the base station includes a radio resource allocating unit allocating radio resources to the selected mobile stations, the radio resources being for transmitting uplink signal, and an allocated radio resource information including unit including information of radio resources allocated by the radio resource allocating unit in a radio frame transmitting the multicast data to be transmitted to the selected mobile stations. |
| US08351388B2 |
Method for transmitting data of common control channel
Disclosed is a radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and a terminal, and more particularly, to a method for exchanging data blocks by a base station and a terminal in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, in which a transmitting side effectively transmits data transmitted via a Common Control Logical Channel to a receiving side, and the receiving side accurately separates unnecessary data from the data received via the Common Control Logical Channel. |
| US08351385B2 |
Radio communication base station device, radio communication terminal device, and response signal allocation method
It is possible to provide a radio communication base station device, a radio communication terminal device, and a response signal allocation method which perform D-ACK and P-ACK resource allocation while maintaining a high use efficiency of the upstream line control channel of PUCCH or the like. When a plurality of CCE are allocated upon PDCCH transmission, PUCCH resources corresponding to odd CCE numbers are allocated for D-ACK and PUCCH resources corresponding to even CCE numbers are allocated for P-ACK among a plurality of CCE numbers which can be used. |
| US08351383B2 |
Carrier group apportionment for a satellite communications system
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth and frequencies among different beams. Bandwidth request data may be received and compiled from the terminals. The satellite may be configured with different beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the requests. In each of a series of one or more epochs, and according to the bandwidth requests, there may be allocations among carrier groups, traffic classes, and particular terminals. The setup of slot structure and selection of modes for particular terminals is also addressed. |
| US08351378B2 |
Method for deactivating ISR and a mobility management unit
The present invention discloses a method for deactivating ISR and a mobility management unit. Wherein the above method includes: when an ISR deactivation is needed to be performed, the mobility management unit judging whether to perform the following operation by the S-GW according to reasons of the ISR deactivation: the mobility management unit sends a request message of deleting bearer to the S-GW, and carries, in the request message, an identifier which is used to instruct the S-GW to initiate the bearer deletion to the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation; or the mobility management unit notifies the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation to perform the ISR deactivation. The synchronization between the bearer deletion and the network element state in the ISR function deactivation scenarios can be realized by the above technical scheme. |
| US08351376B2 |
Method for transmitting packet data in communication system
A method and apparatus for a transmitter having a radio protocol with an upper layer and a lower layer therein used for management of full header packet transmission when transmitting data packets to a receiver are provided. If the upper layer receives from the lower layer, information of a successful transmission of a full header packet, the upper layer decides to stop sending any additional full header packet that contains the same full header as the previously successfully transmitted full header packet. |
| US08351372B2 |
Method and apparatus for high rate packet data transmission
In a data communication system capable of variable rate transmission, high rate packet data transmission improves utilization of the forward link and decreases the transmission delay. Data transmission on the forward link is time multiplexed and the base station transmits at the highest data rate supported by the forward link at each time slot to one mobile station. The data rate is determined by the largest C/I measurement of the forward link signals as measured at the mobile station. Upon determination of a data packet received in error, the mobile station transmits a NACK message back to the base station. The NACK message results in retransmission of the data packet received in error. The data packets can be transmitted out of sequence by the use of sequence number to identify each data unit within the data packets. |
| US08351370B2 |
Method of transmitting scheduling request signal
A method of transmitting a scheduling request signal, wherein the scheduling request signal is used to request a radio resource for uplink transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes configuring a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmission of a scheduling request signal in a subframe, the subframe comprising two consecutive slots, a slot comprising a plurality of single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols, the scheduling request signal being carried by a presence or absence of transmission of the PUCCH, wherein at least one SC-FDMA symbol is assigned for transmission of a sounding reference signal, and transmitting the scheduling request signal and the sounding reference signal in the subframe. Scheduling request signal can be transmitted without interference with other control signals such as sounding reference signal that are transmitted on the same control channel with the scheduling request signal. |
| US08351369B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptive data packet scheduling in mesh networks
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adaptive data packet scheduling in a mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to divide a time period into a plurality of frames; subdivide each of the plurality of frames into a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots providing a time segment for local data communication between nodes in a mesh network; enable a first node to dynamically assign itself a first slot of the plurality of slots for local data communication, the first node using the first slot to receive data communications destined for the first node; and communicate to other nodes of the mesh network information indicative of the first node's dynamic assignment of the first slot. |
| US08351364B2 |
Method for transmitting data in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data in a wireless communication system provides transmitting a cluster allocation message, which informs at least one user equipment that the user equipment belongs to a cluster, to the at least one user equipment, and receiving a response to the cluster allocation message from user equipments belonging to the cluster. Small envelope correlation coefficient can be obtained without increasing the size of a user equipment. |
| US08351361B2 |
WCDMA device and method for discontinuous reception for power saving in idle mode and flexible monitoring of neighboring cells
A WCDMA enabled user equipment device configured to have functions collectively or selectively idle to conserve power. A discontinuous receiver is used to detect and read network messages and report the messages to the computer within the WCDMA enabled user equipment device. The computer then activates functions previously powered down to receive incoming messages for the user of the device. The discontinuous receiver is also used when the device is active to read network messages, freeing a modem of the device to operate on user messaging; and therefore, enhancing user related performance. |
| US08351360B2 |
Establishment of a transcoder-free operation connection
When a request is sent by a switching unit, relating to the use of at least one subset of a codec mode configuration for the establishment of a transcoder-free operation connection by a radio network controller, it is checked whether the at least one requested subset is supported by the radio network controller. If the at least one subset of at least one codec mode configuration is supported, a transcoder-free operation connection to the switching unit and to the communication terminal is established by the radio network controller. Furthermore, a message relating to the at least one subset of the codec mode configuration to be used is signalled from the radio network controller to the communication terminal for the transmission of data. |
| US08351359B2 |
Reporting power headroom for aggregated carriers
A method for reporting power headroom-related information for a plurality of aggregated carriers. The method includes reporting in a bitmap the power headroom-related information for a number of the aggregated carriers that is less than or equal to the total number of aggregated carriers, wherein the power headroom-related information is one of a power headroom for at least one of the aggregated carriers and a path loss for at least one of the aggregated carriers. |
| US08351357B2 |
Tactical cognitive-based simulation methods and systems for communication failure management in ad-hoc wireless networks
Techniques are provided for simulating battlefield scenarios in an ad-hoc communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links between the nodes. |
| US08351356B2 |
Data communication system, communication device, and communication method
A data communication system for starting transmission and reception of target data for processing upon recognition that switching between communication modes is completed. The data communication system includes a master communication device and a slave communication device that continuously perform, at a time of switching from half-duplex communication to full-duplex communication, (i) a handshake using a directional control code indicating the switching and a preamble code indicating completion of the switching and (ii) a handshake using the preamble code and an acknowledge code indicating receipt of the preamble code, whereby each of the devices recognizes that the switching between communication modes by the opposite device is completed and starts transmission and reception of the target data. |
| US08351354B2 |
Privacy control for wireless devices
According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving, at a wireless adaptor of a device, a wireless data packet from an access point (AP), wherein the wireless data packet includes a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of the AP; changing the BSSID of the received data packet by a processor or hardware to produce a modified wireless data packet; and transmitting the modified wireless data packet to an application on the device. |
| US08351353B2 |
Forward channel sharing method in time division communication system
A method for realizing forward channel sharing in time division communication system, which completes group configuration at the cluster control service center server and modifies the attributes of all the users to enable the users to support multi-user packet MUP service, including: (a) the cluster user initiates a group call; the access network allocates a unique group identifier MACIndex for the group call after receiving the call request from the calling cluster user and informs all of the users within the group about this MACIndex (201); (b) after the communication starts (202), the access network packets the user data of one or more groups with multi-user packet MUP, packets the user data of each group into one sub-packet and does scheduling, then transmits the packets through forward channel (203); (c) after receiving the MUP packets from the forward channel, the cluster user looks into the MUP packets for the sub-packet that matches the MACIndex of its group, thereby realizing group communication (204). The present method solves the problem of system delay and supports even more groups. |
| US08351343B1 |
Efficient change recognition algorithm
A data recognition system for a wireless device that includes a storage module that stores a first hash value and a processing module that generates a second hash value based on an incoming data stream received by the wireless device and detects a change in the incoming data stream based on a comparison between the first hash value with the second hash value. |
| US08351342B2 |
System determination emulator for analysis and testing
A roaming emulator provides a tool for emulating system determination for monitoring the operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) during system determination. A signal monitoring program and service selection protocol are stored, and a signal emulation module provides a signal emulation output in accordance with a predetermined set of data. A processing module performs a simulation of a service selection procedure based on the service selection protocol and performed in accordance with the signal monitoring program and the signal emulation output. A result of the service selection is provided by an output module. The emulator can provide emulated system scanning based on geographical or market location, and can emulate scenarios when channels from neighboring systems or markets “bleed” into the RF environment of the WCD. |
| US08351341B1 |
Filtering to protect class of service
A first field of a data unit is analyzed to determine whether the data unit is marked as a particular type of data unit. If the data unit is marked as a particular type of data unit, a second field of the data unit is analyzed to determine whether characteristics of the second data field correspond to the particular type of the data unit. Determining whether the characteristics of the second field correspond to the type of data unit ensures that the data unit is properly marked with respect to type. The first field may indicate a particular priority or that the data unit is carrying voice data. The second field may carry voice data. The analysis of the fields may be done on a data unit by data unit basis, or on a stream basis. |
| US08351331B2 |
Resource allocation framework for wireless/wired networks
A resource allocation framework for wireless/wired networks is described. In an embodiment, methods of end host based traffic management are described which operate separately from the underlying access control protocol within the network (e.g. wireless MAC protocol or TCP). The rate limits for each flow are set based on per-flow weights, which may be user specified, and based on an estimate of the utilization of the shared resource and the rate limits are adjusted periodically so that the resource is not underutilized or saturated. Some embodiments compute a virtual capacity of the resource which is adjusted to optimize the value of the utilization and then the virtual capacity is shared between flows according to the per-flow weights. Methods for estimating the utilization of a wireless network and the capacity of a broadband access link are also described. |
| US08351327B1 |
Intermediate network device applying application-layer quality of service to channels within a communication session
An intermediate network device intercepts a packet flow associated with a communication session between a client device and a server, splits the intercepted packet flow of the communication session into a plurality of application-layer data channels, wherein each application-layer data channel represents an independent stream of application-layer data within the communication session, performs Quality of Service (QoS) processing on the application-layer data channels, combines the plurality of QoS-processed application-layer data channels into a combined packet flow, and outputs the combined packet flow onto the communication session between the client device and the server. |
| US08351325B2 |
Method and system for layer-2 pseudo-wire rapid-deployment service over unknown internet protocol networks
An International Standards Organization (“OSI”) Layer-2 (“Ethernet”) Pseudo-wire (“OSI Layer-1 type service”) appliance, method, system and hub service is disclosed. The method and system facilitate the rapid deployment of Layer-2 Pseudo-wires over unknown and untrusted Internet Protocol (“IP”) networks. The method and system facilitate the fluid edge of corporate networks and any situation where the Layer-3 network addresses cannot be changed. |
| US08351323B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a continuous pilot code in a multi-carrier system
The present invention provides a method for transmitting/receiving a continuous pilot code in a multi-carrier system. The method for transmitting comprises: performing a time-frequency domain two dimensional encoding on an information bit stream to be transmitted; mapping the encoded bit stream to obtain a continuous pilot carrying encoding information; multiplexing a load, a discrete pilot and the mapped continuous pilot carrying the encoding information based on distribution of the load, the discrete pilot and the continuous pilot on a sub-carrier, to generate a frequency domain signal; and performing a frequency-time domain transforming on the generated frequency domain signal, to obtain a time domain sample. The method for receiving comprises: extracting the continuous pilot from an active carrier of a multi-carrier signal; and performing a time-frequency domain decoding on the extracted continuous pilots to obtain the decision of transmitted information bits. The invention ensures reliable transmission of the information without using additional bandwidth resource by carrying information in the continuous pilots using an encoding scheme. |
| US08351316B2 |
Beam shaper for an optical storage system
A beam shaper has a beam shaping element with an optical property that varies spatially over the profile of an incoming light beam in order to generate a first shaped light beam from the incoming light beam. |
| US08351311B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and optical disk device having the same
The present invention achieves higher precision and lower power consumption by reducing semiconductor chip occupation area. A semiconductor integrated circuit which can be mounted on an optical disk device has: a wobble signal generating circuit capable of receiving first, second, third, and fourth light reception output signals A, B, C, and D of a light receiving element in an optical pickup and detecting a wobble in a recordable disk; a differential phase detection signal (DPD) generating circuit for tracking an unrecordable disk; and two A/D converters and an arithmetic circuit. The first, second, third, and fourth light reception output signals are selectively supplied to the two A/D converters, the arithmetic circuit in a first operation mode generates a first addition output signal of A and C and a second addition output signal of B and D, the DPD generating circuit generates a digital phase comparison signal, the arithmetic circuit in a second operation mode generates a third addition output signal of A and D and a fourth addition output signal of B and C, and the wobble signal generating circuit generates a digital wobble signal. |
| US08351307B1 |
Trailing edge optimized near field transducer having non-rectangular pin cross section
A near field transducer (NFT) for use in an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head and configured to direct energy to a recording media is disclosed. The NFT comprises a disk section; and a pin section extending towards an air bearing surface (ABS) from the disk section. The pin section has a proximal end adjoining the disk section and a distal end opposite to the proximal end and facing the ABS, wherein at least the distal end of the pin section has a non- rectangular cross section in a plane parallel to the ABS. |
| US08351289B1 |
Apparatuses and methods for sensing a phase-change test cell and determining changes to the test cell resistance due to thermal exposure
A phase change memory array may include at least one cell used to determine whether the array has been altered by thermal exposure over time. The cell may be the same or different from the other cells. In some embodiments, the cell is only read in response to an event. If, in response to that reading, it is determined that the cell has changed state or resistance, it may deduce whether the change is a result of thermal exposure. Corrective measures may then be taken. |
| US08351286B2 |
Test method for screening manufacturing defects in a memory array
A method of screening manufacturing defects at a memory array may include programming a background pattern of physically inverse data along conductive lines extending in a first direction. The programming may include providing a program conductive line with a high value. The method may further include programming a memory cell at an intersection of the program conductive line and a conductive line extending in a second direction to a selected high value, and determining whether a cell initially at a low value and associated with a conductive line extending in the first direction and adjacent to the program conductive line is disturbed. |
| US08351283B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
The present invention is directed to realize high-speed operation and low latency of a semiconductor storage device employing the QDR method. A memory cell array, a first buffer, a second buffer, a first circuit, a second circuit, a first DLL circuit, and a second DLL circuit are provided. The first DLL circuit generates a first internal clock signal so as to reduce a phase difference between a first clock signal fetched via the first buffer and the first internal clock signal transmitted to the first circuit. The second DLL circuit generates the second internal clock signal so as to reduce a phase difference between the second clock signal fetched via the second buffer and the second internal clock signal transmitted to the second circuit. With the configuration, input setup and hold time can be shortened, and the frequency of the clock signal can be further increased. |
| US08351280B2 |
Reading memory data
A circuit includes a reference data line configured to receive a reference voltage value, a memory cell, a data line coupled to the memory cell and configured to have a data logic value associated with data stored in the memory cell, a first circuit coupled to the reference data line and to the data line, and an output node configured to selectively receive the data logic value from the data line or receive the data logic value through the first circuit, based on the reference voltage value and a trip point used to trigger the first circuit to provide the data logic value through the first circuit. |
| US08351279B2 |
SRAM bitcell data retention control for leakage optimization
An integrated circuit includes a static random access memory (SRAM) array coupled to a first voltage supply node and a second voltage supply node. The first and second voltage supply nodes provide a retention voltage across the SRAM array. A current limiter is disposed between the SRAM array and the first voltage supply node, and a voltage regulator is coupled in parallel with the current limiter between the SRAM array and the first voltage supply node. The voltage regulator is configured to maintain the retention voltage across the SRAM array above a predetermined level. |
| US08351278B2 |
Jam latch for latching memory array output data
A jam latch device for a data node includes a feed forward inverter having an input coupled to the data node; a feedback inverter having an input connected to an output of the feed forward inverter with an output of the feedback inverter connected to the data node; an isolation device that selectively decouples the feedback inverter from a power supply rail, the isolation device controlled by a clock signal of a reset device that resets the data node to a first logic state such that decoupling of the feedback inverter from the power supply rail coincides with resetting the data node to the first logic state; and a margin test device that selectively increases pull down strength of the feedback inverter. |
| US08351265B2 |
Power supplies in flash memory devices and systems
Power supplies in flash memory devices are disclosed. A first section of a flash memory device includes non-volatile memory for storing data. A second section of the flash memory device includes at least first and second pumping circuits. The first pumping circuit receives a first voltage and produces, at an output of the first pumping circuit, a second voltage at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level. The second pumping circuit has an input coupled to the first pumping circuit output for cooperatively employing the first pumping circuit to pump up from a voltage greater than the first voltage to produce a third voltage at a third voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level. |
| US08351263B2 |
Method circuit and system for operating an array of non-volatile memory (“NVM”) cells and a corresponding NVM device
Disclosed is a method, circuit and system for determining a Lowest Operative Threshold Voltage Level for one or more cell segments/blocks/sets of a NVM array and a corresponding device, adapted to compare substantially native state NVM cells in a block of cells against one or more reference cells/structures or offset values, and to maintain a read error count. |
| US08351262B2 |
Flash memory device and program method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device that includes first and second storage areas, and a control logic configured to control the first and second storage areas, wherein when a program operation of the first storage area is passed before a program operation of the second storage area is passed, the control logic completes the program operation of the first storage area and continues the program operation of the second storage area is provided. |
| US08351259B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using a configuration array similar to an associated data array
Methods, apparatus, and systems in accordance with this invention include memories that include a data array and a configuration array adapted to store configuration information for configuring the data array. The data array and the configuration array include a plurality of wordlines and a plurality of bitlines. The plurality of wordlines in the data array extend in the same direction as the plurality of wordlines in the configuration array. Likewise, the plurality of bitlines in the data array extend in the same direction as the plurality of bitlines in the configuration array. Numerous other aspects are disclosed. |
| US08351252B2 |
Data read circuit for phase change memory device and apparatuses including the same
The data read circuit includes a variable current generation circuit and a data sensing circuit. The variable current generation circuit is configured to generate a variable current that varies in response to an external temperature. The data sensing circuit is configured to sense and amplify data on a bit line connected to a non-volatile memory cell according to the variable current and to configured to output the sensed and amplified data. The data sensing circuit controls a margin for sensing the data according to the variable current. |
| US08351249B2 |
Magnetic random access memory
A magnetic random access memory according to the present invention is provided with: a magnetic recording layer including a magnetization free region having a reversible magnetization, wherein a write current is flown through the magnetic recording layer in an in-plane direction; a magnetization fixed layer having a fixed magnetization; a non-magnetic layer provided between the magnetization free region and the magnetization fixed layer; and a heat sink structure provided to be opposed to the magnetic recording layer and having a function of receiving and radiating heat generated in the magnetic recording layer. The magnetic random access memory thus-structured radiates heat generated in the magnetic recording layer by using the heat sink structure, suppressing the temperature increase caused by the write current flown in the in-plane direction. |
| US08351243B2 |
Transistor driven 3D memory
A nonvolatile memory device with a first conductor extending in a first direction and a semiconductor element above the first conductor. The semiconductor element includes a source, a drain and a channel of a field effect transistor (JFET or MOSFET). The nonvolatile memory device also includes a second conductor above the semiconductor element, the second conductor extending in a second direction. The nonvolatile memory device also includes a resistivity switching material disposed between the first conductor and the semiconductor element or between the second conductor and the semiconductor element. The JFET or MOSFET includes a gate adjacent to the channel, and the MOSFET gate being self-aligned with the first conductor. |
| US08351242B2 |
Electronic devices, memory devices and memory arrays
Some embodiments include electronic devices having two capacitors connected in series. The two capacitors share a common electrode. One of the capacitors includes a region of a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric between such region and the common electrode. The other of the capacitors includes a second electrode and ion conductive material between the second electrode and the common electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes has an electrochemically active surface directly against the ion conductive material. Some embodiments include memory cells having two capacitors connected in series, and some embodiments include memory arrays containing such memory cells. |
| US08351241B2 |
Rectification element and method for resistive switching for non volatile memory device
A method of suppressing propagation of leakage current in an array of switching devices. The method includes providing a dielectric breakdown element integrally and serially connected to a switching element within each of the switching device. A read voltage (for example) is applied to a selected cell. The propagation of leakage current is suppressed by each of the dielectric breakdown element in unselected cells in the array. The read voltage is sufficient to cause breakdown in the selected cells but insufficient to cause breakdown in the serially connected, unselected cells in a specific embodiment. Methods to fabricate of such devices and to program, to erase and to read the device are provided. |
| US08351239B2 |
Dynamic sense current supply circuit and associated method for reading and characterizing a resistive memory array
A dynamic sense current supply circuit and an associated method for rapidly characterizing a resistive memory array is disclosed. In one embodiment, the disclosed circuit comprises a first and second dynamically programmable current mirror sub-circuit. Responsive to a bank of control signals, each dynamically programmable current mirror sub-circuit provides a dynamically adjustable current scaling factor. These scaling factors are used to scale a supplied reference current to generate a plurality of sense currents which can be used within a plurality of read operations on a resistive memory array. A digital circuit is also provided to sense and store the result of each read operation. |
| US08351236B2 |
Three-dimensional array of re-programmable non-volatile memory elements having vertical bit lines and a single-sided word line architecture
A three-dimensional array especially adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. A two-dimensional array of bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected is oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. A single-sided word line architecture provides a word line exclusively for each row of memory elements instead of sharing one word line between two rows of memory elements thereby avoids linking the memory element across the array across the word lines. While the row of memory elements is also being accessed by a corresponding row of local bit lines, there is no extension of coupling between adjacent rows of local bit lines and therefore leakage currents beyond the word line. |
| US08351233B2 |
Closed-loop control method for an HVDC transfer installation having a DC voltage intermediate circuit and self-commutated converters
In the method for closed-loop control of at least two converters in an energy transmission and/or distribution system, each rectifier regulator and each inverter regulator provides a differential DC voltage from the difference between a given set DC voltage and the relevant received measured DC voltage, and also provides a differential DC current from a differential DC current from the difference between a set DC current and the corresponding received measured DC current. Each converter is a self-commutated converter with power semiconductors. The rectifier regulation of the provided converter is regulated such that the sum of the product of the differential voltages and the value of given set DC current at the corresponding rectifier and the differential current is a minimum. The inverter regulation regulates the corresponding inverter such that the sum between the differential voltage and the differential current is a minimum. |
| US08351232B2 |
Power factor corrector with high power factor at low load or high mains voltage conditions
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a power factor corrector for low loads and a related method. The power factor corrector raises power factor at low loads or high mains voltages by having the a greater amount of current delivered to the load during the falling time of the absolute value of the mains AC voltage than during the applicable rising time. Various embodiments achieve this by increasing the switch-on time of a control switch during the falling time so that the majority of the switch-on time during a mains period occurs during the falling time. This may involve using a timing voltage increasing over a period within each half mains cycle to increase the switch-on time of conversion cycles in the falling time. This may also involve shifting the power conversion in time domain during each half mains cycle so that a majority of the time occurs during the falling time. Various embodiments may employ both methods. |
| US08351231B2 |
Power conversion device
The present invention aims to provide a power converter with an arm including switching devices connected in parallel, realizing long lifespans of switching devices. An inverter includes an upper and a lower arm, and gate drive circuits each driving the corresponding arm according to a gate control signal Gup_s indicating ON/OFF periods. Each arm includes switching devices connected in parallel. Each gate drive circuit includes: a switching gate control circuit 230u bringing a switching device 210u into conduction at the beginning of the ON period and bringing the same out of conduction within the ON period; and a conduction gate control circuit 231u bringing switching devices 211u and 212u within a period from when the switching device 210u is brought into conduction until the same is brought out of conduction, wherein the switching device 210u has a lower parasitic capacitance than the switching devices 211u and the 212u. |
| US08351224B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus includes a main circuit with switches, and performs power conversion to generate power to a three-phase AC load from a three- or single-phase AC power supply. Some of the switches are configured, using a bidirectional switch including a normally-on device that is turned OFF when a gate circuit is provided with a positive or negative voltage, and a normally-off device that is turned ON when the gate circuit is provided with a positive or negative voltage, to provide only a specific unidirectional current flow when the gate circuit is not activated, and when the gate circuit is activated, provide and control a bidirectional current flow to direct only in an arbitrary unidirectional way. By providing the power conversion apparatus with a capability of directing back, to a load (motor), any power coming therefrom, the conversion apparatus requires no direct-current link capacitor and a diode clamping circuit. |
| US08351213B2 |
Electrical assembly
An electrical assembly including a substantially planar substrate having at least one recess therein and a plurality of electrical components. The electrical components are positioned in the at least one recess and include a first electrical component and a second electrical component. Each of the electrical components has a body and an electrical connection. The electrical connection of the first electrical component and the electrical connection of the second electrical component are aligned with each other when the body of the first electrical component is in a recess and the body of the second electrical component is in a recess. |
| US08351211B2 |
Attachment structure of an attached-plate of a substrate
In an attachment structure for attaching an attached-plate to a printed substrate which is installed in a mechanical chassis, the mechanical chassis includes a positioning pin for positioning the printed substrate; and the attached-plate includes a guide groove that engages with the positioning pin and is slidably guided in a predetermined path, a fixing portion to the printed substrate, and an engaging portion that engages with a side portion of the printed substrate. By causing the attached-plate to slide along a substrate side of the printed substrate with the guide groove being engaged with the positioning pin, the guide groove is guided by the positioning pin, whereby the engaging portion engages with the side portion of the printed substrate. In the engagement state, by fixing the fixing portion of the attached-plate to the printed substrate, the attached-plate is attached to the printed substrate. |
| US08351210B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a circuit board in the housing, a heat sink, and a fixing portion. The circuit board includes a heating component. The heat sink has a plate shape and faces the heating component. The fixing portion is attached to the heat sink and fixed to the circuit board at least at two points. |
| US08351206B2 |
Liquid-cooled electronics rack with immersion-cooled electronic subsystems and vertically-mounted, vapor-condensing unit
Liquid-cooled electronics racks are provided which include: immersion-cooled electronic subsystems; a vertically-oriented, vapor-condensing unit facilitating condensing dielectric fluid vapor egressing from the immersion-cooled subsystems, the vertically-oriented, vapor-condensing unit being sized and configured to reside adjacent to at least one side of the electronics rack; a reservoir for holding dielectric fluid, the reservoir receiving dielectric fluid condensate from the vertically-oriented, vapor-condensing unit; a dielectric fluid supply manifold coupling in fluid communication the reservoir and the dielectric fluid inlets of the immersion-cooled electronic subsystems; and a pump associated with a reservoir for pumping under pressure dielectric fluid from the reservoir to the dielectric fluid supply manifold for maintaining dielectric fluid in a liquid state within the immersion-cooled electronic subsystems. |
| US08351198B2 |
Telecommunications chassis having mezzanine card slots
Embodiments are generally directed to a method and apparatus to couple a module to a management controller on an interconnect. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting that a module has coupled to an interconnect, the interconnect coupled to a modular platform backplane. The method further includes logically coupling the module to one of a plurality of management controllers resident on the interconnect, each management controller logically appears as a management controller for different interconnects coupled to the modular platform backplane. |
| US08351194B2 |
Mainframe structure
A mainframe structure includes a housing having a detachable front cover, and a circuit module accommodated in the housing. The circuit module includes a main circuit board affixed to the back side of the detachable front cover in vertical and carrying first and second electrical connectors, a chip (or chips) and memory devices, a functional circuit board horizontally mounted in the housing at the bottom side and having a first connection port connected to the first electrical connector of the main circuit board, and a display circuit board vertically mounted in the housing at the top side and having a second connection port connected to the second electrical connector of the main circuit board. The detachable design of the circuit module minimizes the sizes of the main circuit board and facilitates maintenance of the main circuit board. |
| US08351193B2 |
Coupling mechanism and electronic device using same
A coupling mechanism includes a pivot assembly and a lifting assembly. The pivot assembly includes a first bracket, a pivot pin, a second bracket, and a cam piece. The second bracket is rotatably mounted to the first bracket via the pivot pin and has a valley portion recessed from one surface thereof. The cam piece is mounted to the pivot pin for holding the second bracket at any angle. The cam piece has a peak portion formed on one surface thereof and received in the valley portion of the second bracket at a closed position. The lifting assembly is adjustably assembled to the second bracket such that the lifting assembly is pivotally assembled with the first bracket. |
| US08351192B2 |
Cable-free power distribution in a rack
A rack for housing electrically powered components, the rack including: a power distribution bus configured to distribute AC power among components installed in the rack via direct coupling without cables; a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a component; and one or more components, each component installed in one of the plurality of slots, each component directly coupled to the power distribution bus without a cable, at least one of the components comprising an inter-rack power distribution unit (‘PDU’) configured to provide AC power to other components installed in the rack via the power distribution bus. |
| US08351191B2 |
Housing for portable display device, and portable display device
Provided are a housing (10) for a portable display device (1) having a holding section (11) located on one side to the center line of the housing (10) that is provided with a weight adjusting section which sets a weight of the holding section (11) side of the housing (10) heavier than a weight of that portion of the housing (10) which is opposite the holding section (11), and whose weight is adjusted by at least one of methods of changing a type of a material for the housing (10), a specific gravity of the material, a density thereof, and an amount used thereof, mixing a weight adjusting substance (14) in the material, and mounting a weight adjusting substance to the housing (10), and a portable display device. |
| US08351184B2 |
Assembled flexible textile capacitor module
An assembled flexible textile capacitor module including a plurality of flexible textile capacitors and at least one flexible connecting board is provided. The flexible connecting board is connected electrically between two adjacent flexible textile capacitors, so that the flexible textile capacitors are connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. |
| US08351183B2 |
Electric double layer capacitor with non-woven fiber separator
An energy storage device includes positive and negative electrodes; positive and negative lead wires connected to the positive and negative electrodes, respectively; a separator composed of unit fibers and positioned between the positive and negative electrodes to electrically insulate the positive and negative electrodes from each other; a housing accommodating the positive and negative electrodes and the separator; an electrolyte received in the housing; and positive and negative terminals connected to the positive and negative lead wires, respectively, wherein an electrolyte permeability index of the separator is larger than an electrolyte permeability index of the electrodes, and the unit fibers of the separator are arranged irregularly so that pores formed in the separator have cross sections of polygonal shapes. Using this energy storage device, the electrolyte of electrodes that gives a direct influence on electric capacity is not depleted. Also, stress failure of the separator may be prevented effectively. |
| US08351181B1 |
Chip type laminated capacitor
There is provided a chip type laminated capacitor including: a ceramic body formed by laminating a dielectric layer having a thickness equal to 10 or more times an average particle diameter of a grain included therein and being 3 μm or less; first and second outer electrodes; a first inner electrode having one end forming a first margin together with one end surface of the ceramic body at which the second outer electrode is formed and the other end leading to the first outer electrode; and a second inner electrode having one end forming a second margin together with the other end surface of the ceramic body at which the first outer electrode is formed and the other end leading to the second outer electrode, wherein the first and second margins have different widths under a condition that they are 200 μm or less. |
| US08351176B2 |
Intrinsically safe DSL circuit
An electrical installation comprising control and/or monitoring means connected to a field device by means of an electrical communications circuit, in which the communications circuit comprises a power supply, a communications device, the field device as a load thereof, and Intrinsic Safety means, in which the communications device is adapted to send and receive signals over the communications circuit to and from the field device, in which the field device is adapted to send and receive signals over the communications circuit to and from the communications device, in which the Intrinsic Safety means renders all or part of the communications circuit Intrinsically Safe, in which the field device is located in an Intrinsically Safe part of the communications circuit, characterized in which the communications circuit is adapted to carry DSL signals, and in which the communications device and the field device communicate with one another according to the DSL protocol. |
| US08351174B1 |
Apparatus comprising a brown-out protection circuit for memory devices
An apparatus and method for regulating an output voltage (VO) of a voltage regulator during a brown-out condition is described. The apparatus comprises the voltage regulator, a brown-out protection circuit, a switch, and a first capacitor. The voltage regulator charges the first capacitor to the regulated output voltage VO. The brown-out protection circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator and the switch. In operation, the brown-out protection circuit detects the occurrence of an undervoltage condition based on a first undervoltage detection signal received at an undervoltage detection input, the brown-out protection circuit disables the voltage regulator and closes the switch to discharge the first capacitor to below a predetermined voltage level. |
| US08351171B2 |
Integrated automatic selection of maintenance mode in electronic tripping systems to minimize arc fault energy
A monitor control system and method for an electrical distribution system includes a trip unit of a circuit breaker. A sensor is associated with the electrical distribution system and coupled to the trip unit wherein the sensor is connected to one or more components of the electrical distribution system to detect whether the electrical distribution system is being serviced when a presence of a human being is also detected. A selector is coupled to the trip unit and configured to select maintenance mode parameters to define a mode of operation of the trip unit wherein in the maintenance mode arc flash reduction or tripping delay reduction is provided such that the trip unit operates based on the maintenance mode parameters. |
| US08351157B2 |
Thin film magnetic head having temperature detection mechanism, head gimbals assembly, head arm assembly and magnetic disk device
This thin film magnetic head has a magnetic read head and a magnetic write head each having respective end surfaces exposed to an ABS. The magnetic read head includes a magnetic reader including an end surface exposed to the ABS, first heat generator disposed on an opposite side of the magnetic reader from the ABS, and first temperature detector disposed closer to the ABS than the first heat generator is. The magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed to the ABS, second heat generator, and second temperature detector disposed closer to the ABS than the second heat generator is. The first heat generator and the first temperature detector adjust the protrusion of the magnetic read head, and the second heat generator and the second temperature detector adjust the protrusion of the magnetic write head. |
| US08351151B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic write head employing a near field transducer (NFT) having a diffusion barrier layer between the near field transducer and a magnetic lip
A thermally assisted magnetic write head having a near-field transducer, a magnetic lip and a diffusion barrier layer between the near-field transducer and the magnetic lip. The near-field transducer includes a transparent aperture constructed of a material such as SiO2 and an opaque metallic antenna constructed of a metal such as Au formed at a first edge of the aperture. A magnetic lip, connected with the write pole is formed near a second edge of the aperture with a diffusion barrier layer being disposed between the magnetic lip and the aperture. The diffusion barrier layer prevents migration of atomic between the aperture and the magnetic lip, thereby ensuring robust performance at localized high temperatures generated by the near-field transducer. |
| US08351150B2 |
Isolating unstable air pressure in a hard disk drive (HDD)
A hard disk drive (HDD) includes a base plate where the base plate includes a disk housing, at least one disk located within a disk shroud in the base plate, a drive cover configured to cover the at least one said disk within said base plate and a reservoir between the base plate and the drive cover and the reservoir is proximate along a periphery of the at least one disk. The HDD also includes a reservoir seal configured to isolate unstable air pressure in the reservoir from the at least one disk. |
| US08351148B2 |
Magnetic tape library device to safely extract magazines of magnetic tape cartridges
To provide a magnetic tape library device with which a plurality of housed magazines can be extracted safely from the device with the same operation, while the device is made to be simple. The magnetic tape library device includes: a plurality of magazines for housing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges inside thereof; a device main body for housing the magazines within a same plane in a freely movable manner and in series in an inserting/extracting direction from an inserting/extracting slot; a connecting mechanism for enabling the plurality of magazines to be connected with each other or to be released by a releasing operation from outside; and a locking mechanism for enabling at least the magazine on the back side of the inserting/extracting direction of the device main body, among the plurality of magazines, to be locked or to be released from the locked state at the inserting/extracting slot side. |
| US08351140B2 |
Lens barrel and lens module
An exemplary lens barrel includes a hollow main body. The hollow main body includes a first end at an object side, and an opposite second end at an image side. The hollow main body also including a cylindrical inner surface adjacent to the first end, a partially conical inner surface adjacent to the second end, and a ring-shaped groove located between the cylindrical inner surface and the partially conical inner surface. The partially conical inner surface faces toward the first end. A cone angle of the partially conical inner surface is in a range from 8 degrees to 16 degrees. |
| US08351139B2 |
Optical element module with minimized parasitic loads
An optical element module is provided. The optical module includes an optical element unit that includes an optical element and a support structure that supports the optical element unit. The support structure includes a support device and a contact device mounted to the support device. The contact device exerts a force on the optical element unit in a first direction via a first contact surface of the contact device. The first contact surface contacts a second contact surface of the optical element unit. The contact device includes a first linking section and a second linking section extending along a second direction running transverse to the first direction and arranged kinematically in series between the first contact surface and the support device. The first linking section and the second linking section are elastically deformed in response to a bending moment resulting from the force. The first linking section and the second linking section are arranged on opposite sides of a reference plane. The reference plane includes the force and runs transverse to the second direction. |
| US08351136B2 |
Optical imaging lens system
This invention provides an optical imaging lens system in order from an object side to an image side including: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power, and a fourth lens element having a concave image-side surface, and at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; wherein the optical imaging lens system further comprises an aperture stop and an electronic sensor on which an object is imaged, and the aperture stop is positioned between an object and the first lens element; wherein there are four lens elements with refractive power. By such arrangement, total track length and photosensitivity of the optical imaging lens system can be effectively reduced while retaining high image quality. |
| US08351131B2 |
Lens apparatus
A lens apparatus is switchable between first and second modes. A control master determination unit a lens apparatus as one of a master and a slave when the lens apparatus is operated in the second mode. A command value transmit-receive unit transmits/receives a command value of a target of the lens apparatus to/from another lens apparatus in the second mode, wherein the lens apparatus drives the target according to a command value from a controller for the lens apparatus for the target for which the lens apparatus is the master, and drives the target according to a command value received through the command value transmit-receive unit for the target for which the lens apparatus is set as the slave. |
| US08351130B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a positive refractive first lens unit, a negative refractive second lens unit, a positive refractive third lens unit, and a rear group including one or more lens units. The first lens unit consists of a negative lens and a positive lens. The first to third lens units and the lens units constituting the rear group move at a time of zooming. The first and third lens units move relative to the image plane in such a way that their respective positions at the telephoto end are displaced toward the object side from their respective positions at the wide angle end. The focal lengths f1, f2 of the first and second lens units and the focal lengths fw, ft of the whole system at the wide angle end and at the telephoto end are arranged appropriately. |
| US08351129B2 |
Zoom lens and electronic imaging apparatus incorporating the same
The zoom lens of the invention comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a first lens group having positive refracting power, a second lens group having negative refracting power, a third lens group having positive refracting power, a fourth lens group having positive refracting power, a fifth lens group having negative refracting power, and a sixth lens group having positive refracting power. The first lens group includes a reflective optical element, and the lens in and on the most image side of the fourth lens group comprises a negative lens concave on its image side. |
| US08351128B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit are arranged in order from an object side to an image side. Distances between the lens units change during zooming. The first lens unit consists of two lenses. Radii of curvature of a lens surface closest to the object side and a lens surface closest to the image side in the first lens unit, a focal length of the first lens unit, and a focal length of the entire zoom lens at a telephoto end are set appropriately. |
| US08351123B2 |
Diffractive head-up display device provided with a device for adjusting the position of the virtual image
A diffractive head up display device that includes a projection unit that uses a display to project an image through a projection window of an image mask, and towards a diffractive combiner. The display and the mask are moveable at right angles to the axis of the projection light beam, so that the adjustment of the position of the virtual image in the field of view of the observer, for example the driver of a vehicle, is obtained by translation of the display and of the mask. |
| US08351120B2 |
Optical device having extented depth of field and fabrication method thereof
A method for designing an optical device which includes a lens and a microlens array is disclosed. A point spread function (PSF) of the lens including rotationally symmetrical aberration coefficients is formulated, wherein the PSF presents various spherical spot sizes. A virtual phase mask having phase coefficients is provided and the phase coefficients are added to the PSF of the lens, such that the various spherical spot sizes are homogenized. The virtual phase mask is transformed into a polynomial function comprising high and low order aberration coefficients. A surface contour of the lens is determined according to the rotationally symmetrical aberration coefficients and the low order aberration coefficients, and a sag height of each microlens in the microlens array is determined according to the high order aberration coefficients. An optical device using the design method is also disclosed. |
| US08351118B2 |
Polarization splitting device, method of manufacturing polarization beam splitter, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A polarization splitting device includes a polarization beam splitter having a polarization splitting surface and allows P-polarized light to transmit therethrough and reflects S-polarized light. A subwavelength structure grating is formed on the polarization splitting surface with a grating pitch smaller than wavelength of incident light. The polarization splitting device also includes a polarizer that is arranged on an optical path of light reflected from the polarization beam splitter and has a transmission axis that is parallel to a polarization direction of the S-polarized light. |
| US08351117B2 |
Optical isolator, shutter, variable optical attenuator and modulator device
An integrated optical device functioning as optical isolator, shutter, variable optical attenuator, and modulator is disclosed. The device employs a Pockels cell for dynamically rotating with nanosecond speed the polarization state of incident light for attenuation and modulation. The invention provides a compact, high performance and reliable device without moving parts for use in laser systems and particularly in fiber optic telecommunication system. |
| US08351114B2 |
System and method for combining multiple fiber amplifiers or multiple fiber lasers
A system for combining multiple fiber amplifiers, or multiple fiber amplifiers. The system includes a fiber combiner with multiple cores for connecting with the multiple fiber amplifiers and for combining the beams of the fiber amplifiers into a single beam. The fiber amplifiers are aligned, tapered, and stretched.A method for combining fiber amplifiers includes emitting a beam from a tapered fiber combiner and transmitting and coupling a portion of the emitted beam back into the fiber combiner via a feedback fiber. The transmission and coupling of the feedback fiber includes mixing the feedback fiber with the output of an auxiliary laser and boosting the feedback fiber by a pre-amplifier. The feedback fiber is split into a plurality of beams by a fiber splitter. The beams are fed into an array of fiber amplifiers and combined with output of the individual fiber amplifiers to form the tapered fiber combiner. |
| US08351109B2 |
Nonlinear optic glassy fibers, methods of making and applications of the same
A nonlinear optic article for difference frequency generation is provided. The article comprises a wave mixer configured to generate a difference frequency mixing signal, the wave mixer comprising a compound made from one or more noncentrosymmetric crystal-glass phase-change materials comprising one or more chalcogenide compounds that are structurally one dimensional and comprise a polymeric 1∞[PSe6−] chain or a polymeric 1∞[P2Se62−] chain, wherein the one or more chalcogenide compounds are capable of difference frequency generation. |
| US08351096B2 |
Image scanning unit
An image scanning unit includes a translucent member, a transport unit, and a scan device. The translucent member has a flat face on which a document is contactingly transported by the transport unit while contacting the document against the translucent member. The scan device scans image information of the document transported by the transport unit at a scan position, and is fixedly disposed on a side of the translucent member opposite a side on which the document contacts the flat face of the translucent member. The translucent member includes a convex portion to lift the document transported by the transport unit from the flat face of the translucent member. The scan device scans the document at the scan position when the document transported by the transport unit passes over the convex portion and is still lifted from the flat face of the translucent member by the convex portion. |
| US08351095B2 |
Image scan device
Image scan device, comprising a platen, and a carriage, the carriage comprising a scan head, and a support structure arranged to move the scan head with respect to the platen, wherein a resilient element is provided that is arranged to bias the scan head in the direction of the platen, and resilient element fully extends between the platen and the bottom of the carriage, as seen from a direction parallel to the platen. |
| US08351092B2 |
Image reader and medium processor
Provided are bristle brush rollers having bristles implanted on their surfaces. A gap exists between the bristle brush rollers and reading surfaces of scanners for allowing a medium to pass through. When transfer rollers transfer the medium in the medium transfer direction, the bristle brush rollers regulate a surface opposite to a to-be-read surface of the medium in order to guide the medium. |
| US08351091B2 |
Image processing system and image scanner therefor
An image processing system includes an information processing device configured to externally receive image data and display thereon an image based on the image data, and an image scanner connected with the image processing device. The image scanner includes a scanning unit configured to scan an image on a document set thereon and to create image data of the scanned image, a detector configured to detect whether the document is removed from the scanning unit, and a controller configured to, in response to the detector detecting that the document is removed from the scanning unit after the image on the document is scanned by the scanning unit, transmit the image data created by the scanning unit to the information processing device. |
| US08351087B2 |
Authentication with built-in encryption by using moire parallax effects between fixed correlated s-random layers
This invention discloses new methods and security devices for authenticating documents and valuable products which may be applied to any support, including transparent synthetic materials and traditional opaque materials such as paper. The invention relates to parallax moire shapes which occur in a compound layer consisting of the superposition of specially designed and possibly geometrically transformed s-random base layer and s-random revealing layer with a small gap between them. The base and revealing layers are formed respectively by base layer element shapes and revealing layer sampling elements positioned at s-random locations, where the base layer locations and the revealing layer locations are strongly correlated. When tilting the compound layer or changing the viewing angle, a parallax moire intensity profile of a chosen shape is seen moving in the superposition, thereby allowing the authentication of the document. A major advantage of the present invention is in its intrinsically incorporated encryption system due to the arbitrary choice of the s-random number sequences used for defining the positions of the specially designed base layer element shapes and revealing layer sampling elements that are used in this invention. |
| US08351086B2 |
Two-dimensional code generating device
The present invention provides a printing device optimizing information to be embedded by merging pieces of information of respective pages into a single piece of information in N-up printing. The printing device generates the information to be embedded according to a result of analyzing print parameters in print data when performing embedding printing processing of the information to be embedded for the print data in a machine-recognizable manner. That is, in the printing device, a unit of generating information to be embedded acquires respective pieces of information of M pages (1≦M≦N), analyzes the acquired respective pieces of information to be embedded, and generates a single piece of information to be embedded merging the respective pieces of information to be embedded based on the analysis result of the respective pieces of information to be embedded, when N-up printing is designated. |
| US08351084B2 |
Vector error diffusion with edge control
A mechanism for providing edge enhancement or attenuation in a vector error diffusion process includes warping a marking decision color space as a function of at least one pixel value of a target pixel. The warping changes the membership of sets of error modified pixel values associated particular sets of marking. The warping is controlled by a function of pixel values of a target pixel from an input image. Therefore, the warping is constant for uniform portions of the image. Since pixel values change at edges or where colors change, a mechanism is provided for the presence of edges to influence the vector error diffusion process. Selection of the function by which the marking decision color space is warped provides a means for controlling the aggressiveness of the edge enhancement or attenuation. Equivalent processing includes warping or adjusting error modified pixel values according to corresponding functions. |
| US08351081B2 |
Digital printing control using a spectrophotometer
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for xerographic Dmax control based upon measurements made on the printed paper using an inline spectrophotometer (ILS) or similar device. The disclosed method is based upon directly measuring the color to actuator sensitivity. Each of the separations is controlled independently using an actuator specific to that color separation. The present method is effective at controlling the color of the solid primaries. The fact that the vector of change is highly correlated with solid color variation seen in the field suggests that the teachings hereof effectively increase the solid color stability. Increased solid color stability increases the color stability throughout the printer gamut and the stability of the gamut boundaries, which increases the robustness of gamut mapping algorithms. Advantageously, the present method can be combined with existing ILS-based maintenance architectures. |
| US08351079B2 |
Banding profile estimation using spline interpolation
A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by a sensor; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; determining aperiodic components of the coherent signal by the processor; determining the periodic component of the coherent signal using spline interpolation, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile, by the processor; and printing an output print with a correction applied based on the banding profile. |
| US08351074B2 |
Color print control method and apparatus for managing color profile used for color matching in association with a virtual printer and paper
This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching. |
| US08351067B2 |
Device to edit documents for printout and method thereof
A device and method of editing documents created in different application programs and stored in a storage unit of a printer to create a new document according to a minimum unit. |
| US08351065B2 |
Print system for requesting paper stock information in paper feed trays of printers on network
When a paper sheet is required during execution of a print job, a printing apparatus requests paper sheet information about the states of paper feed trays from the other printing apparatuses. When the other printing apparatuses transmit the paper sheet information, the printing apparatus of the request source displays a search result display screen 22 which represents the states, such as the size, type, and residual amount of paper sheet in the paper feed tray of each of the other printing apparatuses. By viewing the screen 22, the user is able to determine the position of the printing apparatus and the paper feed tray, in which the required paper sheet is stored. Therefore, when the paper sheet is required during execution of the print job, the paper sheet can be quickly replenished by notifying the presence position of the paper sheet. |
| US08351064B2 |
Image output setting control system, image output setting control apparatus, image output instruction apparatus, management server, image output apparatus, computer-readable medium and computer data signal for designating different output conditions
An image output instruction apparatus includes an output condition reception section and an output instruction section. The output condition reception section receives, for each predetermined range of a document to be output, a setting of an output condition concerning an image output process. The output instruction section provides a first output instruction to a first image forming apparatus based on the output conditions for the respective predetermined ranges received by the output condition reception section. |
| US08351062B2 |
Bit selection from print image in memory of handheld image translation device
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for selecting bits from a defined print image in memory of a handheld imaging translation device are described herein. The bits may be selected by determining a location of a print nozzle, mapping the location to a memory location, and selecting a bit from the memory location. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08351061B2 |
Printing apparatus which is capable of editing printing data, and a printing method for use with the printing apparatus
A printing apparatus, including a user input unit which receives a first user command to initiate a printing operation, a display unit which displays information relating to the printing operation, a printing unit which performs printing with respect to printing data, and a controller which controls the display unit to display reference information of the printing data before the printing, and which controls the printing unit to perform the printing according to a second user command. |
| US08351059B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of image processing, and recording medium storing image processing program
An image input apparatus determines whether an image input apparatus that has sent image data is an authorized sender when storing of the image data to a specific storage area is detected. According to a determination result indicating that the image input apparatus is the authorized sender, the image input apparatus applying one or more processes to the image data. |
| US08351056B2 |
Image processing in accordance with position of member
The invention provides a multi-function printer not requiring exclusive components (principally electrical components) for reading the print settings and thus being free from a cost increase, and a control method therefor. For print settings such as a paper size and a print quality in a copying or a direct printing, a lever is provided for each print setting item. Before executing the reading and printing operations of copying or direct printing, position of each lever is read and the setting of each print setting item is analyzed based on the position of each lever, and the reading and printing operations are executed according to thus analyzed settings. |
| US08351055B2 |
Display apparatus, display-apparatus control method and program
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including an input/output section for displaying an image as well as detecting a light beam representing an input received from an external source and is capable of handling inputs received from the external source as inputs destined for a plurality of points on a display screen. The apparatus further includes a target generation section configured to generate information on a target located on the display screen to represent a series of inputs received from the external source on the basis of a timewise or spatial relation between input portions located on the display screen as portions receiving inputs from the external source. The apparatus still further includes an event generation section configured to recognize an event representing a change of a state of the target on the basis of the information on the target and generate information on the event. |
| US08351054B2 |
Apparatus detecting a position of a functional layer on an electrode
An apparatus detecting the position of the functional layer of the electrode plate includes a first electrode plate sensor disposed at a side of a material to sense start points of electrode plates continuously formed on the material at uniform intervals, a second electrode plate sensor disposed at an other side of the material to sense a length of the electrode plate, a functional layer sensor provided behind the first electrode plate sensor and the second electrode plate sensor above a material traveling direction to sense position and length of the functional layer formed on the electrode by sensing a difference in color, and a controller feeding back a feedback result indicating whether the functional layer is correctly coated through values sensed by the first electrode plate sensor, the second electrode plate sensor, and the functional layer sensor. |
| US08351052B2 |
Method and device for reading out a topographic structure applied to a component; and a component
A method for reading a topographic structure applied to a component includes providing the component with the topographic structure, applying an agent configured to enhance a contrast of the structure to at least a region of the component where the structure is located and reading the topographic structure after the applying the agent. |
| US08351049B2 |
Interferometric device for position measurement and coordinate measuring machine
An interferometric device for position measurement of an element moveable in a plane is disclosed. A laser light source measures the position of the moveable element and emits the required measuring light. A beam splitter splits the measuring light into a first partial beam path and a second partial beam path, which each impinge on a reflecting surface of the moveable element via an interferometer. Herein, at least the beam splitter, which splits the measuring light into a first partial beam path and a second partial beam path, and the beam splitter, which directs the third partial beam path onto an etalon via an interferometer, have a respective beam trap associated with them, which traps the light returning from the respective interferometers. |
| US08351047B2 |
Method for evaluating characteristics of optical modulator having high-precision Mach-Zehnder interferometers
ProblemAn object is to provide a method for evaluating characteristics of individual Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers in an optical modulator which includes a plurality of MZ interferometers,Means for Solving ProblemsThe method comprises a step for adjusting a bias voltage of the MZ interferometer, a step for eliminating zero-order components, a step for measuring an output intensity and a step for evaluating characteristics. An optical modulator (1) includes the first MZ interferometer (2) and the second MZ interferometer (3). The first MZ interferometer (2) includes wave-branching section (5). Two arms (6,7), wave coupling section (8) and electrodes which is not shown in figures. |
| US08351044B2 |
Spectral imaging apparatus provided with spectral transmittance variable element and method of adjusting spectral transmittance variable element in spectral imaging apparatus
A spectral imaging apparatus includes: a spectral transmittance variable element having a spectral transmittance characteristics such that a transmittance periodically varies with wavelength and being capable of changing the variation period, for converting light from an object under observation into light having a plurality of peak wavelengths; a light extracting device for extracting, from the light having a plurality of peak wavelengths, light for imaging that contains a peak wavelength proximate to a predetermined command wavelength designated by a user and light for calibration that contains a peak wavelength other than the peak wavelength proximate to the command wavelength; an image sensor for capturing an image of the object under observation formed of the light for imaging; a detector for detecting, from the light for calibration, the peak wavelength other than the peak wavelength proximate to the command wavelength; and a control unit including, an operation processing section that calculates the peak wavelength that is proximate to the command wavelength and is contained in the light for imaging, from the peak wavelength that is other than the peak wavelength proximate to the command wavelength, is contained in the light for calibration and is detected by the detector, calculates an amount of shift between the peak wavelength proximate to the command wavelength as calculated and the command wavelength, and determines an amount of adjustment of the variation period on a basis of the amount of shift, and a drive processing section that drives the spectral transmittance variable element for changing the variation period. |
| US08351040B1 |
Electric gated integrator detection method and device thereof
A cavity ring down system is optimized to precisely measure trace gases or particles in an air sample by using time sampling detection and multiple-sample averaging resulting in a high signal-to-noise ratio. In one embodiment, a cavity ring down system is programmed to measure the rise time and the fall time of the light level in an optical cavity. The cavity ring down system is programmed to integrate a plurality of sample portions during a rise time and a plurality of sample portions during a fall time (in alternate intervals) to obtain a time constant with no sample present and a time constant with sample present. The measurements are used to calculate trace gases in the air sample. |
| US08351033B2 |
Tunable filter, light source apparatus, and spectral distribution measuring apparatus
A tunable filter including: a polarization splitter that splits input light into two linearly polarized light rays of mutually orthogonal vibration directions; a wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element that splits the two linearly polarized light rays into two spectral images having spatial spread in one direction; and a reflective spatial modulator device that modulates and reflects linearly polarized light in each wavelength region for the two spectral images independently from each other. Modulated light reflected at the reflective spatial modulator device reenters the wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element and the polarization splitter, thereby splitting and outputting the modulated light, as output light in a wavelength region modulated by the reflective spatial modulator device and output light in a wavelength region not modulated, and input light and reentered light to the polarization splitter and input light and reentered light to the wavelength dispersion spectroscopic element are parallel light fluxes. |
| US08351030B2 |
Method and device for producing a cuvette and cuvette produced using said method
A multi-part injection mold (10) for producing a cuvette (1) or a receptacle vessel for liquid or gaseous media for spectroscopic, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis or measurement using a measuring region or measuring gap (2) through which radiation is able to penetrate is provided, with the cuvette being made of plastic through injection molding. To this end, the inner cavity or filling space (9) and the measuring gap (2) are formed and limited on the interior of the injection mold (10) by a contour core (11), the thickness of which is limited to about one millimeter or less in the region (11a) of the measuring gap (2). The contour core (11) is held on the end (11b) thereof having the smallest dimension during the injection molding process, initially by at least one support (14), and retracted during the injection molding process after partial filling of the mold with plastic such that the lower continuation of the walls of the measuring gap (2) is formed. |
| US08351028B2 |
Measuring device for measuring a focused laser beam
According to an embodiment, a measuring device for measuring a laser beam comprises a magnification lens system with a total of two lenses which are arranged in series in the beam path of the laser beam and whose foci are coinciding, as well as a camera which is arranged behind the two lenses in the focus of the last lens and includes an electronic image sensor which generates an electronic image of the magnified laser beam. The lenses together with the camera are adjustable along the beam path relative to a reference point of the measuring device, for the purpose of locating the beam waist of the laser beam and of determining a diameter profile of the laser beam. The measuring device further comprises an adapter enclosing the beam path for coupling the measuring device to a laser system which provides the laser beam. The adapter forms an abutment surface or the laser system, which is axially directed with respect to a beam axis of the laser beam, and permits the measuring device to be coupled in situ at the installation site of the laser system. |
| US08351026B2 |
Methods and devices for reading microarrays
An embodiment of a system for acquiring images of a probe array is described that comprises a first light emitting diode that provides light comprising a first range of wavelengths outside of an excitation spectrum; a second light emitting diode that provides light comprising a second range of wavelengths inside of the excitation spectrum; and a detector that detects one or more wavelengths in the first range of wavelengths, wherein the first range of wavelengths comprise light wavelengths emitted from fluorescent molecules associated with one or more probes of the probe array in response to the second range of wavelengths and wavelengths reflected from one or more reflective elements associated with the probe array. |
| US08351025B2 |
Target and three-dimensional-shape measurement device using the same
A target set in a to-be-measured object and used for acquiring a reference value of point-cloud data, the target includes a small circle surrounded by a frame and having the center of the target, a large circle surrounded by the frame and disposed concentrically with the small circle so as to surround the small circle, a low-luminance reflective region located between the frame and the large circle and having the lowest reflectivity, a high-luminance reflective region located between the large circle and the small circle and having the highest reflectivity, and an intermediate-luminance reflective region located inside the small circle and having an intermediate reflectivity which is higher than the reflectivity of the low-luminance reflective region and which is lower than the reflectivity of the high-luminance reflective region. |
| US08351022B2 |
Radiation beam modification apparatus and method
A radiation beam modification apparatus for controlling a property of a beam of radiation in a lithographic apparatus includes a flexible sheet provided with a plurality of apertures, and a positioning apparatus comprising a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member, wherein a first end portion of the flexible sheet is coupled to the first rotatable member, a second end portion of the flexible sheet is coupled to the second rotatable member and a central portion of the flexible sheet extends between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. The apertures may be used to control the numerical aperture of a projection system of a lithographic apparatus. |
| US08351014B2 |
Heat exchanger for back to back electronic displays
A cooling assembly for a dual electronic image assembly having an open and closed gaseous loop. A closed gaseous loop allows circulating gas to travel across the front surface of a pair of electronic image assemblies and through a heat exchanger. An open loop allows ambient gas to pass through the heat exchanger and extract heat from the circulating gas. An optional additional open loop may be used to cool the back portion of the electronic image assembly (optionally a backlight). The cooling assembly can be used with any type of electronic assembly for producing an image. Some embodiments use cross-flow heat exchangers comprised of corrugated plastic. |
| US08351012B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
To control the positioning of a spacer more accurately in a liquid crystal display device to prevent display defects due to incorrect positioning in a display region. To provide a liquid crystal display device with higher image quality and reliability, and to provide a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device with high yield. In a liquid crystal display device, a region onto which a spherical spacer is discharged is subjected to liquid-repellent treatment in order to reduce the wettability with respect to a liquid in which the spherical spacer is dispersed. The liquid (the droplet) does not spread over the liquid-repellent region and is dried while moving the spherical spacer toward the center of the liquid. Thus, incorrect positioning shortly after discharging, which has been caused by the loss of control in the liquid, can be corrected by moving the spherical spacer while drying the liquid. |
| US08351011B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
In an liquid crystal display device which includes: an image display part having a plurality of pixels; and a sealing member which is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate while surrounding the image display part and seals the liquid crystal therein, the sealing member includes a liquid crystal filling port which is formed by cutting away a portion of the sealing member, an side-wall edge surface of the first substrate and a side-wall edge surface of the second substrate are made coplanar with a side-wall edge surface of the sealing member along the extending direction of the sealing member on at least one side of the first substrate and the second substrate where the liquid crystal filling port is formed, and the liquid crystal filling port is formed such that a width of the liquid crystal filling port is narrowed along the liquid-crystal filling direction. |
| US08351009B2 |
Display panel, liquid crystal display device and drive-circuit-mounted board
A display panel is connected to a wiring-mounted board on which a signal supply wiring that supplies wiring supplies signals for driving the display panel is mounted. The wiring-mounted board has (i) first and second wires extending toward the display panel, and (ii) first and second terminals that are connected to the first and second wires, respectively. The display panel has a first short-circuit wire that is connected to the first and second wires at a connecting part of the display panel and the wiring-mounted board, so as to short-circuit the first and second wires. |
| US08351006B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor positioned at the crossing of the gate line and the data line, a common line extending in parallel to the gate line, a common electrode connected to the common line and having common finger portions extending into the pixel region, and a pixel electrode connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor and having pixel finger portions extending into the pixel region and overlapping the common line. |
| US08351004B2 |
Three dimensional display and lens therein
A lens includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a medium layer. The first substrate includes a first electrode layer, an insulation layer, a second electrode layer and a first alignment layer. The first electrode layer includes first electrodes, and the second electrode layer includes second electrodes formed on the insulation layer. The second electrodes separately overlap the first electrodes, and one of the second electrodes shifts relatively to the corresponding first electrode toward a first direction. The first alignment layer is formed on the second electrode layer and has a first rubbing direction opposite to the first direction. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A three-dimensional display is also disclosed herein. |
| US08351001B2 |
Vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device with viewing angle characteristics improved by disposing optical plates
First and second polarizers are disposed in cross-Nichol configuration. A liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two polarizers and establishes vertical alignment in a state of no voltage application. An even number of optical films having optical anisotropy and disposed between the liquid crystal cell and first polarizer. A retardation of the liquid crystal cell is in a range between 300 nm and 1500 nm; and each optical film satisfies nx>n≧z, an in-plane retardation is smaller than 300 nm, a thickness direction retardation is in a range between 50 nm and 300 nm, an angle between an in-plane slow axis of the optical film disposed nearest to the first polarizer and an absorption axis of the first polarizer is smaller than 45°, and the slow axes of mutually adjacent optical films are perpendicular to each other. |
| US08351000B2 |
Optical film and method for producing same, polarizer, and liquid crystal display device
An optical film comprising a thermoplastic resin, which is such that the slow axis direction in the film plane differs from the film tilt direction and the birefringence of a sliced section of the film that contains the tilt direction and the thickness direction in the plane varies in the thickness direction of the film. |
| US08350997B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device includes: a panel on which images are implemented; a backlight device below the panel and providing light; and a polarizer including a linear-polarizing layer over the panel that linear-polarizes light from the backlight device and a circular-polarizing layer over the linear-polarizing layer that circular-polarizes the linear-polarized light. |
| US08350995B2 |
Optical film, production method of optical film, optically-compensatory film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device
A production method of an optical film, including: a stretching step of stretching a film, wherein the film has a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, wherein the stretching is in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film; and a shrinking step of shrinking the film in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film, that is not the direction in which the film is stretched, wherein the film thickness in the thickness direction is increased as compared with the film thickness before at least one of the stretching step and the shrinking step. |
| US08350993B2 |
LCD apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of color filters for four color components arranged in a matrix correspondingly to a plurality of pixels, respectively, every group of four color filters that are arranged adjacently in horizontal and vertical directions being corresponding to different four color components, wherein each of the plurality of color filters has a generally rectangular shape that has a cutout portion in each of four corners thereof. |
| US08350986B2 |
Backlight unit and video display apparatus applying the same therein
A backlight unit of thin-type comprises: at least one or more light source(s); plural numbers of light guide plates, each of which is configured to guide and irradiate the light of the light source(s) to a side of a liquid crystal panel; and a chassis, on which the light source(s) and the light guide plates are fixed, thereby being constructed by aligning the light guide plates, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: 15.0 mm>h, 20°≦θ≦60° when assuming that a distance from an irradiation surface of the backlight unit to the light guide plate is “h”, and that an angle indicative of a half-value light intensity of a light emitting from a light emission surface of the light guide plate, thereby providing a video of high picture quality, and there is also provided a video display apparatus applying the same therein. |
| US08350985B2 |
Electro-optic apparatus and electronic instrument
An electro-optic apparatus includes: an electro-optic panel; and a holding member configured to hold at least the electro-optic panel, in which the holding member includes a shoulder configured to support at least part of a peripheral edge of the electro-optic panel, and the shoulder does not support the electro-optic panel in at least an area of a part of a corner and a proximity thereof. |
| US08350983B2 |
Liquid crystal display with backlight frame structure
In one aspect of the present invention, an LCD includes a front frame having a flange and a rear cover having a flange defining a housing therebetween, a liquid crystal (LC) panel placed in the housing, a backlight positioned between the LC panel and the rear cover, and a backlight frame having a first engaging structure configured to receive the flanges of the front frame and the rear cover, and a second engaging structure configured to retain the backlight and the LC panel in the housing. |
| US08350979B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting display panel; a bezel frame comprising a lower surface and side walls and receiving the display panel; a bezel receiving the bezel frame; and a connecting system connecting the bezel frame and the bezel. |
| US08350977B2 |
Display substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A display substrate includes a base substrate, a plurality of a gate line, a gate driving circuit, a starting pad and a first electrostatic dispersion portion. The gate lines are disposed at a display area of the base substrate and extend to the peripheral area. The gate driving circuit is disposed at a peripheral area of the base substrate, includes a plurality of a stage connected to the gate lines, and provides the gate lines with gate signals. The gate driving circuit is driven in response to a vertical starting signal applied to a first stage of the plurality of stages. The starting pad is disposed at the peripheral area and applies the vertical starting signal to the gate driving circuit. The first electrostatic dispersion portion is electrically connected to the starting pad. The first electrostatic dispersion portion disperses electrostatic applied to the gate driving circuit. |
| US08350971B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling media devices
Systems and methods process an input received from a remote control. A media stream is presented on a display, and the input from the remote control is received at a local device associated with the display. The local device may determine if the input is intended for the local device or a remote device. If the input is intended for the local device, the input may be processed at the local device. Various interface features, for example, may be managed at the local device. If the input is intended for the remote device, a signal may be transmitted from the local device to the remote device to thereby allow the remote device to respond to the input. |
| US08350970B2 |
Radio frequency front end for television band receiver and spectrum sensor
A radio frequency front end for a television band receiver and spectrum sensor includes a first plurality of adaptive matching networks connected to a signal summer that combines signals received by the first plurality of antennas respectively connected to the first plurality of adaptive matching networks and outputs a combined signal to each of a second plurality of downconverter/tuners. The downconverter/tuners are respectively or collectively connected to an analog to digital converter that converts output of the second plurality of downconverter/tuners into at least one digital signal that is output to the television band receiver and spectrum sensor. |
| US08350965B2 |
Portable terminal device
A portable terminal device includes: an operation part 7 including operation keys 71 that are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix form; an image enlarging part 91 that, in a state where a plurality of enlargement target areas 93 are preliminarily set as partial areas of an image, generates an enlarged image by, on the basis of an operation of any of the operation keys 71, enlarging an image within an enlargement target area 93 preliminarily related to the operation key 71; a display image generating part 92 that generates a display image including the image in a normal or an enlargement browsing mode generates a display image including the enlarged image; and a display part 5 that displays the display image. The respective enlargement target areas 93 respectively correspond in an arrangement order to the operation keys 71, and form overlap areas with their adjacent enlargement target areas. |
| US08350962B2 |
Method and system for video format conversion
Described herein is a method and system for video format conversion. Aspects of the current invention may convert decoded video data from 4:2:2 format to 4:4:4 format. Aspects of the current invention may also convert decoded video data from 4:2:0 format to 4:4:4 format. Aspects of the current invention may further convert decoded video data from 4:2:0 format to 4:2:2 format. Aspects of the current invention may provide a region-aware conversion system that monitors the edges of mosaic windows in order to apply proper boundary conditions during the conversion process. |
| US08350961B2 |
System and methods for the simultaneous display of multiple video signals in high definition format
A scaling engine, blending mechanism, memory controller, frame buffer and video driver are included within a semiconductor, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), to provide broadcasting of signals at a high resolution format by combining two or more low resolution video signals to create a high resolution signal in real-time High Definition format, such as 1080p. The high resolution signals can be concurrently displayed as one or more image areas on a display device in any contemplated size, number and arrangement. |
| US08350959B2 |
Camera lens actuation apparatus
A camera lens actuation apparatus for driving motion of a camera lens supported on a support structure by a suspension system. The apparatus incorporates a subassembly comprising SMA wire connected to at least one mounting member which is mounted to the support structure. At least one pair of lengths of SMA wire are held in tension between the camera lens element and the support structure at respective acute angles to the optical axis applying a tensional force having a component along the optical axis. The lengths of SMA wire in the pair are held at angle as viewed along the optical axis. There may be plural pairs with a balanced arrangement in which the forces generated have no net component perpendicular to the optical axis and generate no net torque around any axis perpendicular to the optical axis. A control circuit controls heating of the SMA wire in response to a measure of its resistance. |
| US08350955B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method
Provided are a digital photographing apparatus by which a clear image may be obtained despite shaking of the digital photographing apparatus during a photographing operation, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method. The digital photographing apparatus includes a data obtaining unit for obtaining first data of a first image captured using a long time exposure and obtaining second data of a second image captured using a short time exposure; a motion vector extraction unit for extracting a motion vector between a position of a subject in the first image and the position of the subject in the second image; a blurring determination unit for determining whether blurring exists in the first image; a subject location determination unit for determining whether the position of the subject in the first image is identical to the position of the subject in the second image; and a data combination unit for creating data having luminance data of the second data and having composite color data obtained by combining color data of the first and second data, as ultimate data. |
| US08350949B2 |
Method for transmitting man-machine operation picture, mobile video device thereof, and video system using the same
A method for transmitting a man-machine operation picture, a mobile video device thereof, and a video system using the same are provided, which are applicable to a first mobile video device and a second mobile video device wirelessly connected to each other, and the first mobile video device includes a first screen. A display picture data is obtained from a video buffer of the first screen. The first screen displays a first picture according to the display picture data. The first mobile video device converts the display picture data into a video data compliant to a video format, and transfers the video data to the second mobile video device according to a video communication protocol. The second mobile video device displays a second picture according to the received video data, and a displaying content of the second picture substantially includes a displaying content of the first picture. |
| US08350948B2 |
Image device which bypasses blurring restoration during a through image
An imaging device able to simplify an optical system while maintaining a high frame rate, but without needing expensive blurring restoration processing hardware, able to reduce costs, and in addition capable of obtaining a restored image little influenced by noise, and a method of same, which bypasses blurring restoration processing of an image processing device 150 by a switching unit 140 to perform camera signal processing of a camera signal processing unit 160 at the time of a through image and performs blurring restoration processing at the image processing device 150, then performs camera signal processing at the camera signal processing unit 160 to display the image only at the time of capturing an image. |
| US08350944B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and image data generation apparatus with electronic reduction and enlargement signal processing capabilities
A recording mode control circuit controls a first recording mode in which still image data having a first image size corresponding to the number of pixels of an image sensing element is generated and recorded and a second recording mode in which moving image data having a second image size smaller than the first image size is generated and recorded. In generating the moving image data in the second recording mode, a camera signal processing circuit executes electrical zoom processing to obtain the second image size. At this time, a maximum magnification ratio setting circuit sets the maximum variable magnification ratio of electrical zoom processing in the camera signal processing circuit. With this processing, an image recording apparatus which allows a user to select a zoom mode with a small degradation in image quality in electrical zoom processing can be implemented. |
| US08350943B2 |
Digital camera
A digital camera includes a first frame formed of a thermal conductive material; an imaging unit disposed in front of the first frame; an optical system including lenses and focusing image light on the imaging unit; a first display unit disposed on a rear portion of the first frame; a first heat generator that located at a side surface of the optical system and disposed on a front portion of the first frame; a second heat generator disposed on a front portion of the first heat generator; a second frame formed of a thermal conductive material, and disposed between the first heat generator and the second heat generator; a third frame formed of a thermal conductive material, and disposed on a front portion of the second heat generator; and a second display unit disposed on a front portion of the third frame. |
| US08350940B2 |
Image sensors and color filter arrays for charge summing and interlaced readout modes
Image sensors and color filter arrays for in-pixel charge summing and interlaced readout modes may be provided. An image sensor that supports charge summing and interlaced readout modes may include an array of pixels with pairs of adjacent green, red, and blue light-sensitive pixels. An image sensor may implement an in-pixel charge summing readout mode in which charges from pairs of pixels are summed onto a common node and then read out from the common node. An image sensor may implement an interlaced readout mode in which image data is read out from alternating rows of the image sensor. An image sensor may use a shared readout scheme in which a group of four pixels is formed from two pairs of commonly-colored pixels. The four pixels may share circuitry such as a reset transistor, a buffer transistor, and a row select transistor and may connect to a single readout line. |
| US08350937B2 |
Solid-state imaging device having pixels including avalanche photodiodes
A solid-state imaging device includes: an avalanche photodiode having a structure including an n+ region, a p+ region, and an avalanche region interposed between the n+ region and the p+ region, all of which are formed to extend in a thickness direction of a semiconductor base; and a pixel repeatedly having the structure of the avalanche photodiode. |
| US08350929B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, controlling method and program for the same
When picked up images picked up by an image pickup apparatus are accessed, the contents of the picked up images are grasped readily. A dynamic picture storage section 200 stores image data produced by an image pickup section 110. A metadata storage section 210 stores transformation information regarding a first picked up image and a second picked up image. An image memory 180 retains images as history images. An image transformation section 150 transforms the second picked up image based on the transformation information. An image synthesis section 170 synthesizes the transformed second picked up image with the history images to form a synthesized image. An operation acceptance section 160 accepts a designation operation which designates a display magnification of the second picked up image. A display region extraction section 190 determines a display region on the synthesized images retained in the image memory 180 based on the designated display magnification and extracts those images which are included in the display region. A display control section 240 successively displays the extracted images on a display section 250. |
| US08350928B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera
A method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera is provided. In one aspect, image data is captured by a digital camera. Image data analysis is performed on the captured image data by the digital camera to automatically generate a category tag to which the captured image data may relate. The generated category tag is stored in association with the captured image data for categorizing the captured image data. |
| US08350926B2 |
Imaging apparatus, method of processing imaging result, image processing apparatus, program of imaging result processing method, recording medium storing program of imaging result processing method, and imaging result processing system
This invention is applied to a system applied to an electronic still camera, for instance. According to the invention, thumbnail image data DT obtained by thinning RAW data is recorded along with the RAW data DR, and image correction information DS at the time of imaging-result capturing which is used in presentation. |
| US08350925B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an image recording section which records a plurality of image data items obtained on different dates and including image data items including a person, and a control section which displays one of the image data items selected from the image data items on a display section, retrieves another one of the image data items obtained on a date different from a date of the selected image data item and including the person, and displays the another one of the image data items on the display section. |
| US08350924B2 |
System and method for processing image signals based on interpolation
There is provided a method for performing digital processing on an image signal output from CCD image sensors with a CMYG color filter array, the method including converting a digital CMYG signal of 10 bits each into a first YCbCr signal of 10 bits each, by using color interpolation, converting the first YCbCr signal of 10 bits each into an RGB signal of 8 bits each by using interpolation, performing color correction on the RGB signal of 8 bits each and converting a color-corrected RGB signal of 8 bits each into a second YCbCr signal of 8 bits each in a format which complies with the ITU-601 format, encoding the second YCbCr signal of 8 bits each and converting an encoded second YCbr signal of 8 bits each into an analog video signal, and adjusting automatic exposure and automatic white balance, using the RGB signal of 8 bits each and the second YCbCr signal of 8 bits each. |
| US08350923B2 |
Camera system and mobile camera system
A mobile camera system is disclosed. The camera system connects plural camera apparatuses including at least first and second camera apparatuses mounted on a mobile body to one another and combines images photographed by the first and the second camera apparatuses, wherein reference data obtained by the first camera apparatus is transferred to the second camera apparatus via a camera control unit, signal processing is performed in the second camera apparatus on the basis of the reference data transferred to generate a corrected image, and an image from the first camera apparatus and the corrected image outputted from the second camera apparatus are combined to output a combined image. |
| US08350922B2 |
Method to compensate the effect of the rolling shutter effect
A method to create a video sequence of a plurality of resultant images is disclosed. The video sequence is produced from images originating from a rolling shutter acquisition sensor. |
| US08350919B2 |
Configuration of a device based upon orientation
An application for a device that includes an image sensor, an orientation sensor and image capture capabilities. Operation of the device is based upon a detected orientation of the device by the orientation sensor. In one embodiment, when the device is in a horizontal orientation, the image capture operates as a digital still image camera and when the device is in a vertical orientation, the image capture operates as a digital video camera. Other orientations are anticipated including upside down as well as other operating modes such as flash enabled and flash disabled. Optionally, a control is provided to lock the operation in one of the modes irrespective of changes in the orientation of the device. |
| US08350917B2 |
Digital camera, method for sending image data and system for transmitting and receiving image data
A digital camera (1) which includes an external memory device (12) to store image data, a communication device (15) connected to LAN to conduct a data communication, and a control section (10) to control these. Request data is broadcast to the LAN by the camera, and when data responding to the request data is received from a device connected to the LAN, the control section detects an IP address of the equipment from which the response data is sent, and the control section (10) sends the image data to the IP address. |
| US08350915B2 |
Motion detector camera
A motion detector camera includes a housing, viewing electronics mounted within the housing, an IR emitter exposed on a surface of the housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the viewing electronics, the IR emitter, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the IR emitter and to the viewing electronics when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector. |
| US08350914B2 |
Systems and methods for on-line marker-less camera calibration using a position tracking system
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for calibration of an imaging camera or other image acquisition device. Certain embodiments include characterizing a transformation from a coordinate system of an imager to a coordinate system of a first sensor positioned with respect to the imager using a first off-line calibration. Certain embodiments also include characterizing a transformation from a coordinate system of an imaging camera source to a coordinate system of a second sensor positioned with respect to the imaging camera source using a second off-line calibration. Additionally, certain embodiments include quantifying intrinsic parameters of the imaging camera source based on a transformation from the coordinate system of the imager to the coordinate system of the imaging camera source based on the first and second off-line calibrations and information from the first and second sensors and a transmitter positioned with respect to an object being imaged. |
| US08350912B2 |
Image sensor and image sensor system
A CMOS image sensor 1 outputs a differential signal (VF−VU) between a pixel signal (VF) in a period when a LED 7 is turned on in an exposure period and a pixel signal (VU) in a period when the LED 7 is turned off in the exposure period. This does not obtain a difference between a pixel signal in an exposure period and a pixel signal in a non-exposure period. It is possible to increase simplicity in utilization as well as suppressing fixed pattern noise by generating the difference between pixel signals in different exposure spans from each other. |
| US08350907B1 |
Method of storing digital video captured by an in-car video system
A method of storing digital video is provided where an original video clip is selected, according to selection criteria, from video clips stored on a digital storage medium. The frame rate associated with the selected video clip is lowered and a downgraded version of the original video clip is written to a digital storage medium at the lowered frame rate. The original video clip may then be overwritten or erased to thereby reduce the storage space requirements for the downgraded video clip by approximately the percentage reduction in downgraded frame rate. |
| US08350906B2 |
Control method based on a voluntary ocular signal particularly for filming
The invention relates to a control method based on a controlling eye signal, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: detecting at least one slow movement corresponding to an eye movement of at least one eye of an operator; generating a said eye control signal from at least one detected slow movement; and producing a command from the eye control signal. The invention applies in particular to controlling cameras by eye. |
| US08350902B2 |
System and method of providing real-time dynamic imagery of a medical procedure site using multiple modalities
A system and method of providing composite real-time dynamic imagery of a medical procedure site from multiple modalities which continuously and immediately depicts the current state and condition of the medical procedure site synchronously with respect to each modality and without undue latency is disclosed. The composite real-time dynamic imagery may be provided by spatially registering multiple real-time dynamic video streams from the multiple modalities to each other. Spatially registering the multiple real-time dynamic video streams to each other may provide a continuous and immediate depiction of the medical procedure site with an unobstructed and detailed view of a region of interest at the medical procedure site at multiple depths. A user may thereby view a single, accurate, and current composite real-time dynamic imagery of a region of interest at the medical procedure site as the user performs a medical procedure. |
| US08350901B2 |
Electronic endoscopic apparatus
A brightness image is produced from a frame image input from a scope and a high brightness pixel group including pixels next to one another, of which the brightness values exceed a predetermined value, and of which the number exceeds a predetermined value, is detected. Only when the pixel group is detected, a microcomputer performs light amount adjustment. When no high brightness pixel group is detected any more, a brightness blurred image is produced from the brightness image. If the value of a pixel forming the brightness blurred image is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the value is replaced with zero. If the value is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the value is replaced with a greater value as the value is smaller. Then, brightness conversion is performed on the brightness image by adding the brightness blurred image after replacement to the brightness image. |
| US08350898B2 |
Head-mounted visual display device with stereo vision and its system
A head-mounted visual display device for low-vision aid, which features 2 models, they are analog signal model and digital signal model. Said analog device contains at least an analog video extractor, a video decoder, an ITU-R.656 decoder, a de-interlacing unit, an image processor, two YCbCr to RGB converter, two color enhancement units, two video D/A converter, a head mounted display, a signal voltage controller and a wireless communication module. Said digital device consists of a digital video signal extractor/capturer, a RGB to YCbCr converter, an image processor, two YCbCr to RGB converter, two color enforcement units, a head-mounted display, a signal voltage controller and a wireless communication module. |
| US08350895B2 |
Stereo pair and method of making stereo pairs
An improved method of making stereoscopic pictures comprising photographing a scene with a camera spaced from the scene, moving the camera generally parallel to the scene while producing a plurality of pictures of the scene each taken at a different position relative to the scene, and separating the pictures into stereo pairs for viewing. Photographing and moving steps can be performed and the separating step can be done as soon as the pictures are available for viewing to produce the stereo pairs. Alternatively, the photographing and moving steps can be done at one time and the separating step can be done at subsequent times to produce the stereo pairs of the invention thereby allowing stereo pairs to be produced from existing motion pictures, computer generated images, videotapes and still photographs. The method can be used utilizing drones, satellites, rockets, slings and other vehicles to move the camera(s). |
| US08350894B2 |
System and method for stereoscopic imaging
A method is disclosed for performing stereoscopic imaging. The method may involve obtaining a first image of a scene, at a first time, using a camera disposed on a platform, where the distance between the camera and the scene is changing. The camera may be used to obtain a second image of the scene, at a second time, with one of the first and second images being larger than the other. One of the images that is larger than the other may be resized so that the sizes of the two images are substantially similar. Both of the images may be rotated a predetermined degree so that the images form a stereo pair that may be viewed with a stereoscope viewing component or made into an anaglyph for viewing with an anaglyph viewing component. |
| US08350890B2 |
Method and apparatus of wireless video transceiving based on multi-carrier technique
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus of wireless video transceiving based on a multi-carrier technique. The method comprises the following steps: image information in a video GOP are separated and a sequential relationship between individual image information is recorded; general image information and important image information are treated discriminatingly in a video transmission process according to the degree of importance of different image information, in order to improve a transmission quality of the important image information; after the image information is received by a receiving end, the image information is recombined into the video GOP according to the sequential relationship. In the present invention, the important image information and non-important image information are treated discriminatingly via a sub-carrier allocation and a selection of different transmitting conditions in order to enhance the transmission quality of important image information in terms of improving the transmitting condition, so that the transmission quality of the wireless video is guaranteed. |
| US08350887B2 |
System and method of message notification and access via a video distribution network
A method includes receiving, via an internet protocol television network, a broadcast signal comprising video content at a device. The device is associated with a person. The method includes receiving, via the internet protocol television network, a message notification directed to a communication address associated with the person. The message notification includes a visual indication based at least in part on the communication address. The method also includes sending a display signal to a display device. The display signal includes the broadcast signal and the visual indication. |
| US08350886B2 |
Vehicle-mounted video communication system and vehicle-mounted image pickup system
A vehicle-mounted video communication system is equipped with first to fourth image pickup devices, mounted on a vehicle, for transmitting video data obtained by picking up an image; first to fourth video processing devices for processing the video data; and a vehicle-mounted video relay device having connection sections connected to the first to fourth image pickup devices and the first to fourth video processing devices via communication cables and configured to transmit the video data transmitted from the first to fourth image pickup devices selectively or in a multiplexed state to the first to fourth video processing devices. |
| US08350884B2 |
Image forming method, optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image forming method including: inputting a pulse width modulated signal into a laser beam output section and thereby outputting a laser beam, wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal is changed based on image data containing density information; scanning the laser beam onto a surface of a photoreceptor through an optical scanning apparatus and thereby outputting an image; detecting a diameter of the laser beam in a sub-scanning direction formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, the diameter of the laser beam inherent to each optical scanning apparatus and changing along an image height in a main scanning direction; and correcting the pulse width in response to the diameter in the sub-scanning direction so that the image output density is uniform with respect to one and the same input density in the image data. |
| US08350880B2 |
Selective heat-transfer imaging system and method of using the same
A heat-transfer imaging system and a method of using the same. The heat-transfer imaging system includes a heat-transfer sheet and an activating ink. The heat-transfer sheet and the activating ink are specially formulated so that only the areas of the heat-transfer sheet onto which the ink has been printed become adhesive under heat-transfer conditions. This effect may be achieved by designing the sheet to include an ink-receptive coating whose melting temperature is higher than that typically encountered during normal heat-transfer conditions and by formulating the activating ink to include a plasticizer that, when printed onto the ink-receptive coating, lowers the melting temperature of the ink-receptive coating sufficiently so that the modified melting temperature falls within the temperature range encountered during heat-transfer. |
| US08350878B2 |
Image erasing apparatus, and method of determining foreign matter attached to recording medium supplied to image erasing apparatus
An image erasing apparatus includes: a supply unit that supplies a recording medium; a recovery unit that recovers the recording medium supplied by the supply unit; a plurality of pairs of carrying rollers that carry the recording medium supplied by the supply unit toward the recovery unit; a detecting unit that acquires information regarding foreign matter made of metal attached to the recording medium; a heating unit that heats the recording medium to a temperature equal to or higher than a color-erasing temperature of a developer; and a carriage control unit that reduces a rotation speed of the plurality of pairs of rollers from a first speed to a second speed when the detecting unit acquires the information regarding the foreign matter made of metal. |
| US08350877B2 |
Print state detecting device for printed sheet surface, erasing apparatus, and print state detection method for printed sheet surface
There is provided a print state detection device for a printed sheet surface including a sheet conveying path on which a sheet printed with an image is conveyed, a contact member that contacts with the surface of the sheet moving on the sheet conveying path, a contact state detecting part that detects a physical phenomenon occurring when the contact member contacts with the sheet, a separating part that separates the difference in the physical phenomenon occurring when the contact member comes into contact with the ground of the sheet surface and when the contact member comes into contact with an image, based on detection information obtained by the detection of the contact state detecting part, and a print state determining part that determines the print state of an image on one sheet based on separation information obtained by the separation by the separating part. |
| US08350875B2 |
Mobile terminal emitting light according to temperature and display control method thereof
A mobile terminal emitting light according to a temperature and a display control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display part activated in response to a control signal, a temperature sensor part for measuring a temperature of the mobile terminal and outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured temperature value, and a central controller for outputting the control signal to activate the display part included in the mobile terminal when the voltage input from the temperature sensor part exceeds a predetermined reference value. Therefore, it is possible to improve the design of the mobile terminal. |
| US08350873B2 |
Method of map scale conversion of features for a display
A method of controlling a vehicle navigation system may entail inquiring if the navigation system is displaying a road map in a first map scale on a display, inquiring if a scrolling feature was used to pan the road map in the first map scale on the display to a specific scrolled point, concluding that the scrolling feature was used, calculating a detail road display area based on the specific scrolled point of the display; loading detailed road link data in a second map scale from memory of the navigation system, the detailed road link data corresponding in actual geographic area to the detail road display area, converting the detailed road link data from the second map scale to the first map scale to create converted detail road link data, and displaying the converted detail road link data together with the road map in the first map scale. |
| US08350872B2 |
Graphical user interfaces and occlusion prevention for fisheye lenses with line segment foci
A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation. |
| US08350871B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating virtual graffiti in a mobile virtual and augmented reality system
A method and apparatus is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon. |
| US08350869B1 |
Preview for colorblind
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to previewing documents for colorblind end users. |
| US08350868B2 |
Method of compositing variable alpha fills supporting group opacity
A method of compositing a plurality of graphic objects with a compositing buffer, is disclosed. The plurality of graphic objects forming a group is attenuated by group opacity and is composited from a top object to a bottom object. Based on a first mask and the group opacity, a second mask is generated. The first mask stores a remaining possible contribution for further graphic objects below and including the plurality of graphic objects. The plurality of graphic objects in a top down order is processed. In particular, for each graphic object of the plurality of graphic objects: (a) a contribution value for the graphic object using the second mask is determined, the contribution value representing a contribution of the graphic object to the compositing buffer; (b) a colour value of the graphic object is composited with the compositing buffer using the contribution value; and (c) the second mask is updated using the contribution value. The first mask is then updated using the second mask and the group opacity. The updated first mask is configured for further compositing of objects below the plurality of graphic objects. |
| US08350867B2 |
Image quality configuration apparatus, system and method
A method includes detecting one of an application access or a file type access, and configuring, in response to detecting the application or file type access, automatically without user interaction, a display system in an image quality configuration for the application or the file type where the image quality configuration is based on providing best image quality with respect to the application or the file type. Configuring the display system in an image quality configuration, may involve determining that a profile associated with the application or associated with the file type is stored in memory, and configuring the display system according to the profile. The method may adjust at least one anti-aliasing parameter or at least one anisotropic filter parameter. The method may monitor an operating system to obtain an indication that an application has been accessed or that a file type has been accessed. |
| US08350860B2 |
Real-time goal-directed performed motion alignment for computer animated characters
A method for real-time, goal-directed performed motion alignment for computer animated characters. A sequence of periodic locomotion may be seamlessly aligned with an arbitrarily placed and rotated non-periodic performed motion. A rendering application generates a sampling of transition locations for transition from a locomotion motion space to a performed motion space. The sampling is parameterized by control parameters of the locomotion motion space. Based on the location and rotation of a goal location at which the performed motion is executed, a particular transition location may be selected to define a motion plan to which a performed motion sequence may then appended. Advantageously, by utilizing a look-up of pre-computed values for the control parameters of the motion plan, the rendering application may minimize the computational cost of finding the motion plan to move the character to a location to transition to a performed motion. |
| US08350855B2 |
Systems and methods of reducing anti-aliasing in a procedural texture
The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for reducing anti-aliasing in a procedural texture. One method includes creating a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and querying the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. One system includes memory and a processor. The processor is programmed, by the code stored in the memory, to create a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and query the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. One system includes means for creating a procedural reduction map describing the texture as applied to an object, and means for querying the map for radiance of a pixel in the object. The map includes a basis functions and a hierarchy of texels. Each texel includes basis weights and a surface normal distribution. Each basis weight corresponds to one of the basis functions. |
| US08350854B2 |
Method and apparatus for visualizing a tomographic volume data record using the gradient magnitude
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for visualizing a tomographic volume data record of an object volume. In at least one embodiment of the method, the gradient magnitude is additionally determined for each voxel of the volume data record and an at least two-dimensional transfer function is provided which assigns a color value and an opacity value to each combination of gradient value and scalar of the voxel. Here, at least the opacity value and the color value are modulated by the gradient value. The transfer function is applied to the previously determined gradient values and scalar values and the volume data record is displayed with the respective color and opacity values of the voxels by way of a volume rendering technique. The method permits an improved recognizability of structures, in particular in volume data records from medical imaging. |
| US08350852B2 |
Device and method for reconstruction and visualization of projection data
In a device and associated method for reconstruction and visualization of projection data, projection data are stored per slice and are subjected to an image reconstruction procedure in parallel within arbitrary slice planes in a processor-controlled filtering process that is executed n times, wherein volume data that are created can already be made available (loaded) for a direct visualization. |
| US08350849B1 |
Dynamic view-based data layer in a geographic information system
Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided. |